Wisconsin congressman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Menomonee Falls), one of the leading authors of the Patriot Act, said in an interview during the “UpFront with Mike Gousha” show on Sunday that his brainchild must be amended in light of the controversy surrounding widespread data collection by the National Security Agency.
“We need to amend the FISA Act,” he said. “We need to amend the Patriot Act business records section so this type of snooping is only targeted at people who have been identified as foreigners who are trying to do us harm.”
FISA, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, governs electronic surveillance by the federal government and authorizes a “FISA court” that is largely concealed from public view. Even leaks of documents from the court, such as the controversial order released by whistle-blower Edward Snowden, are exceedingly rare.
Sensenbrenner says the laws should mandate that subpoenas and warrants are required to collect information on U.S. citizens.
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(photo from sensenbrenner.house.gov)
