Congressman Jim Himes, the ranking Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, is advocating for the preservation of the FBI’s authority to conduct warrantless searches of Americans’ communications. Himes, in internal communication obtained by WIRED, states that he has not witnessed abuses by the FBI under the Trump administration, and therefore supports the renewal of a surveillance program under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.
Himes emphasizes the effectiveness of the FBI’s internal protocols, citing a compliance rate exceeding 99 percent in preventing domestic misuse. However, recent shifts within the FBI, including the closure of the Office of Internal Auditing by FBI director Kash Patel, have raised concerns about the program’s oversight.
With the absence of auditors to monitor compliance, the mechanisms ensuring proper use of surveillance data have been compromised. Himes remains open to additional reforms to Section 702 but advocates for a short-term reauthorization of the program.
Source: WIRED