Will Confirmation Of Trump’s New DNI Revive Fed’s Favorite Warrantless Spying Tool?

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) does not appear destined for a quick reauthorization, even after Jay Clayton was confirmed as director of national intelligence (DNI).

Senate Republicans scheduled Clayton’s confirmation unusually fast following his nomination because they faced pressure to reauthorize Section 702, a warrantless government spying tool, after it lapsed on June 12. Senate Democrats initially voted against its reauthorization in response to President Donald Trump tapping Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte to be acting DNI, though they did not appear willing to support reauthorizing it anytime soon even after the upper chamber confirmed Clayton.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Democrats would not consider passing Section 702 until Pulte was officially out of office. However, the minority leader stated that while his party wanted Section 702 reenacted, it needed reforms.

“Well, first we have to make sure Pulte is out, and second, many of us want to get 702 enacted, but it needs some reforms,” Schumer told the Daily Caller News Foundation.

Schumer’s office did not respond to the DCNF’s follow-up question about which reforms the senator was specifically referring to.

When the DCNF asked Democratic Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren if she would support Section 702 after Pulte’s exit, she replied, “No.”

Democratic Connecticut Sen. Chris Murphy told the DCNF he would still not support Section 702 because it has “underlying problems,” naming the need for a warrant as an example.

“I have underlying problems with the way Section 702 is designed,” Murphy said. one of the problems.”

Seven Senate Republicans, including Mike Lee of Utah and Josh Hawley of Missouri, voted