Share this @internewscast.com

FBI Director Christopher Wray urged Congress on Tuesday to renew a surveillance law that provides most of the intelligence that lands on the president’s desk each day. Wray made his plea in testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Many Republicans have opposed a renewal of the law — Section 702 of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires Dec. 31 — as part of a crusade against the FBI and Justice Department, which they allege has been weaponized against conservatives.

Wray pointed to threats from Iran and China to argue that surveillance powers under the law serve a crucial role to U.S. national security interests.

“When it comes to foreign adversaries like Iran, whose actions across a whole host of threats have grown more brazen — seeking to assassinate high-level officials, kidnap dissidents, and conduct cyber attacks here in the United States — or the People’s Republic of China, which poses a generational threat to our economic and national security, stripping the FBI of its 702 authorities would be a form of unilateral disarmament,” Wray said in his opening remarks.

Wray said the surveillance law is “key to our ability to detect a foreign terrorist organization overseas directing an operative here to carry out an attack in our own backyard.”

“Given the critical importance of 702, we’re committed to being good stewards of our authorities,” he said. “To that end, I’ve ordered a whole host of changes to address unacceptable compliance incidents.”

Wray said he has been “more encouraged” by recent data from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court that “shows a 98% compliance rate, and observes that the reforms are ‘having the desired effect.’” He also cited two recent Department of Justice semiannual reports that he said similarly “show a greater than 98% compliance rate.”

Concluding his opening remarks, Wray noted that before the terrorist attack on the World Trade Center on Sept. 11, 2001, “well-intentioned policymakers had made the choice to build a wall preventing access to national security information sitting in our and our partners’ holdings.”

He stressed that “allowing 702 to lapse, or amending it in a way that undermines its effectiveness would be akin to laying bricks to rebuild another, pre-9/11-style wall.”

“As the threats from foreign adversaries to our homeland continue to evolve, the agility and effectiveness of 702 will be essential to the FBI’s ability — and really our mandate from the American people — to keep them safe for years to come, and we owe it to them to make sure we’ve got the tools we need to do that,” he said.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Pentagon Reveals Timetable It Has Set Back Iran’s Nuclear Program

The Pentagon Discloses Timeline for Delaying Iran’s Nuclear Development

During a press briefing on Wednesday, Parnell informed reporters that the Department…
Alabama teen zapped by lightning strike through phone charger inside her home

Alabama Teen Struck by Lightning Through Phone Charger Indoors

A teenager in Alabama experienced a temporary memory loss after a lightning…
Passengers and first responders at an ICE train following an axe attack.

An attacker armed with an axe and a hammer injures at least four people in a rampage on a crowded high-speed train in Germany.

At least four individuals sustained injuries when a man wielding an axe…
Mets' Francisco Lindor named All-Star starter to end long drought

Francisco Lindor Breaks Mets’ All-Star Drought with Starting Position

Francisco Lindor’s All-Star drought is over — even if he hasn’t performed…
Monsoon season brings the promise of rain for the arid southwestern US

Monsoon Season Brings Much-Needed Rainfall to the Dry Southwestern U.S.

ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (AP) — Clouds gather in the early afternoon, and gusty…
Northeast Florida law enforcement's three-day sting nets 33 arrests

Three-day sting operation in Northeast Florida leads to 33 arrests

The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office has named their recent operation ‘Operation…
British Star Makes Disgusting Comment About Number of Her Abortions

British Celebrity Sparks Controversy with Comments on Her Abortion Experiences

I’m sorry, the word abortion is horrible. But to joke that one’s…
Why it would be tough for Mets, others to acquire Brewers veteran

Why Acquiring Brewers Veteran Might Be Challenging for the Mets and Others

The Mets are in need of an additional starting pitcher, along with…
Congressional intern killed in Washington, D.C. shooting, police offer reward for multiple suspects

D.C. Shooting Claims Life of Congressional Intern; Police Announce Reward to Capture Suspects

A Congressional intern was shot and killed in Washington, D.C. on Monday…
Fruit salad with blueberries, kiwi, banana, and strawberries.

The FDA Issues Urgent Recall on Tainted Fruit Due to Severe Health Risks, Including Miscarriage and Death

HUNDREDS of boxes of a popular fruit are being recalled after it’s…
Woman arrested for murder in connection to man found dead at Jacksonville apartment complex

Woman Arrested for Murder in Death of Man at Jacksonville Apartment Complex

Journee McGrew, 21, faces charges of second-degree murder and tampering with evidence,…
Portrait of Maj-Gen Mikhail Gudkov in military uniform.

Kursk Missile Strikes: Ukrainian Attack Eliminates Russia’s Naval Deputy Chief Amidst Invasion Plans

UKRAINE killed the deputy commander of Russia’s navy who was plotting a…