CIA Director Bill Burns issued a rare public statement regarding Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows warrantless spying on Americans.
Burns called Section 702 an “essential tool” to disrupt illegal fentanyl shipments into the United States.
“The threat to the US posed by fentanyl and other synthetic opioids is real,” Burns told POLITICO in a statement.
“Section 702 is an essential tool in CIA’s mission to protect the American people from a range of threats, including illicit fentanyl trafficking. Without this vital program, CIA simply would not be able to defend our country as effectively in as many dangerous corners of the world,” he added.
That sounds like a bunch of nonsense.
“This is absurd! We have fentanyl pouring over our border because Joe Biden refuses to stop the invasion!! Instead of fixing the root problem they created, their solution is to strip us of our constitutional rights,” Charlie Kirk commented.
In a RARE public statement, CIA Director Bill Burns says we need FISA warrantless surveillance to stop fentanyl:
“Section 702 is an essential tool in CIA’s mission to protect the American people from a range of threats, including illicit fentanyl trafficking."
This is absurd!…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 12, 2024
From POLITICO:
The Biden administration is making a final push to advocate for the reauthorization of government surveillance powers ahead of the final House vote on Friday.
CIA Director Bill Burns, who rarely speaks publicly about how the agency uses the program, told POLITICO in a statement that the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act’s Section 702 — which has caused long-running GOP infighting that forced House Republicans to punt on reauthorization three times in the past — has been key to its disruption of illegal fentanyl shipments into the U.S.
Instead of Biden using the powers vested in him as president, CIA Director Bill Burns says we need FISA to…STOP FENTANYL!
It's not incompetence, it's intentional. Create problems until the people are willing to relinquish individual freedoms in exchange for "safety." Madness.
— AMAC (@AMACforAmerica) April 12, 2024
CIA Director Bill Burns supports warrantless surveillance under Section 702 to combat fentanyl trafficking.
Uh, Biden is responsible because he won’t stop the invasion along our border❗️
This is Orwellian. 😡#FISA #FISA702 https://t.co/4GXWIdroVO
— Arch Kennedy (@ArchKennedy) April 12, 2024
It appears the CIA director obtained his wish to continue the warrantless spying program.
The House of Representatives voted Friday to pass legislation that reauthorizes Section 702.
JUST IN: House Of Representatives Reauthorize FISA Warrantless Spying On Americans
The House also rejected an amendment proposed by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) that would require a warrant to spy on Americans.
86 Republicans voted against the amendment.
NEW: 86 Republicans just voted against @RepAndyBiggsAZ’s amendment to require a warrant to spy on Americans under FISA causing it to fail.
Here are the names: pic.twitter.com/6mAoJfnlac
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 12, 2024
Former Congressman Justin Amash wrote:
The amendment vote on FISA 702 to require a warrant to search Americans’ communications, which, by the way, is something the Constitution ALREADY requires, fails 212-212.
Republicans voted in favor: 128-86
Democrats voted against: 84-126
Vote out every person who voted no
The amendment vote on FISA 702 to require a warrant to search Americans’ communications, which, by the way, is something the Constitution ALREADY requires, fails 212-212.
Republicans voted in favor: 128-86
Democrats voted against: 84-126Vote out every person who voted no. pic.twitter.com/MU1EpyM567
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) April 12, 2024
“This is how the Constitution dies. By a tie vote, the amendment to require a warrant to spy on Americans goes down in flames. This is a sad day for America. The Speaker doesn’t always vote in the House, but he was the tie breaker today. He voted against warrants,” Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) commented.
This is how the Constitution dies.
By a tie vote, the amendment to require a warrant to spy on Americans goes down in flames.
This is a sad day for America.
The Speaker doesn’t always vote in the House, but he was the tie breaker today. He voted against warrants. pic.twitter.com/i49GnCzyPm
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 12, 2024
Massie previously revealed Congress gave itself a carve out in the reauthorization of warrantless spying on Americans.
“Congress gives itself a carve out in the reauthorization of FISA 702 warrantless spying on Americans. The bill requires the FBI to notify and seek consent from Congress before violating the privacy of Congressmen. This will persuade many members of Congress to vote yes,” Massie said.
🚨 Congress gives itself a carve out in the reauthorization of FISA 702 warrantless spying on Americans.
The bill requires the FBI to notify and seek consent from Congress before violating the privacy of Congressmen.
This will persuade many members of Congress to vote yes. pic.twitter.com/usKVeNnq3b
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 9, 2024