An unnamed FBI analyst “improperly” used a government surveillance database to look up info on a U.S. senator, a state senator, and a state judge.
This was all revealed in a declassified Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court opinion that was released on Friday.
The opinion states that the improper searches involved the infamous 702 database.
“The 702 database, which was propped up in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, contains a vast collection of communications collected from foreign targets overseas which in turn includes messages collected from Americans who may be in touch with those targets,” according to ABC News.
Here’s the catch, though: To use the database, an FBI analyst or agent “must certify they have reason to believe they will gather foreign intelligence or evidence of a crime as a result — which allows them to bypass what would be the usual step of securing a search warrant signed off by a federal judge.”
The federal court tasked with overseeing the corrupt intelligence community’s use of its spy powers released an opinion today that found that the FBI illegally spied on a U.S. senator, a state senator, and a state judge. https://t.co/cr2Upnd47S pic.twitter.com/CXchD3fvcl
— Sean Davis (@seanmdav) July 21, 2023
Now flashback to June of 2022, when an unnamed agent used the last names of both the U.S. senator and state senator to conduct four searches of the 702 database.
The analyst “had information that a specific foreign intelligence service was targeting” both legislators, according to the FISA Court opinion, but a later review conducted by the Justice Department’s National Security Division determined that the claim wasn’t valid enough to justify a search.
Moving ahead a couple months, the same unnamed agent conducted another search in October of 2022 using the social security number of a state judge who “had complained to FBI about alleged civil rights violations perpetrated by a municipal chief of police,” the FISA court opinion notes.
The good news is that the U.S. senator has been notified of the “improper” search. The state senator and state judge have yet to be notified.
Moreover, DOJ officials have said that while all three were searched for in the 702 database, none of them were “surveilled,” whatever that means.
“This is a case where a control we have put in place to prevent this type of thing just didn’t work because people didn’t comply with the policy,” an official said Friday, adding that what happened is why the DOJ needs improved training and accountability.
Kash Patel: GOP needs ‘Church Committee’ to investigate FBI/DOJ, hold them accountable for abuses https://t.co/Da5hGaPWc5 pic.twitter.com/0l8D4rhbue
— BizPac Review (@BIZPACReview) November 4, 2022
According to Politico, all this comes at a key moment.
“There is growing bipartisan support on Capitol Hill for enacting reforms to the [702 database program] and the broader law it is housed under. While it was designed to target overseas residents, the program can also sweep in Americans’ communications — and has faced bipartisan scrutiny for doing so,” the site notes.
“Congress must decide by the end of the year how and whether to extend the surveillance program. Among the changes lawmakers are now weighing are new limits to how the FBI can search for U.S. persons swept up by the program. The improper search that ODNI disclosed on Friday may further roil that debate.”
Critics for their part are adamant that Congress needs to step in and do something right away, even if that something means nixing the whole 702 program, period.
Look:
ELIMINATE 702 now
— LynnDelgado (@LynnDel74164879) July 12, 2023
C’mon politicians. Even a blind can see Section 702 must be abolished. It’s a danger to everybody. Don’t act stupid. Get rid of it.
— Billy Mania (@billymania) June 15, 2023
It’s time to reform 702. Eliminate the ability for the fbi to perform warrantless searches on US Citizens. Make it a felony and mandatory prison for anyone abusing the statute. I think 100’s of thousands of abuses say that the fbi is using it for politics & can’t be trusted!
— Galactic Emperor Elect – Randy (@KiltedRef) July 20, 2023
Democrats & Republicans in Congress are working tirelessly behind the scenes to draft a reauthorization of FISA 702 that they can fraudulently sell to the media & public as an important reform of the surveillance law while actually doing nothing to protect your privacy or rights.
— Justin Amash (@justinamash) July 17, 2023
The breadth of this warrantless surveillance program continues to grow, and the FBI continues to break the rules put in place to protect Americans. This must end.
Tell Congress it’s time to reform Section 702 or let it expire. https://t.co/U7yZZCd3Z2
— ACLU (@ACLU) July 21, 2023
House Judiciary Committee chair Jim Jordan has for his part made it clear he won’t support any 702 reauthorization without reforms.
“The FBI wants millions of dollars for a new headquarters. It also wants FISA section 702 reauthorized without changes. NO,” he tweeted earlier this month.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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