19 House Republicans Bucked Their Party After GOP Leaders Refused To Include Warrant In Spy Tool Extension
Nineteen House Republicans defied leadership Thursday by voting with Democrats to block a temporary extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until July 2 because it did not require a…
Nineteen House Republicans defied leadership Thursday by voting with Democrats to block a temporary extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) until July 2 because it did not require a warrant before spying on Americans.
The extension failed to pass in a 198-218 vote, with 190 Republicans and seven Democrats voting in favor of the temporary extension one day before its Friday expiration. Republican Reps. Tim Burchett of Tennessee, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Lauren Boebert of Colorado, Chip Roy of Texas, Harriet Hageman of Wyoming and Michael Cloud of Texas all voted against the tool because it did not require the government to obtain a warrant.
The other Republicans who voted against it were Reps. Josh Brecheen of Oklahoma, Eric Burlison of Missouri, Kat Cammack of Florida, Andrew Clyde of Georgia, Eli Crane of Arizona, Warren Davidson of Ohio, Troy Downing of Montana, Russ Fulcher of Idaho, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Mike Kennedy of Utah, John Rose of Tennessee, Michael Rulli of Ohio and Keith Self of Texas.
Section 702 allows the government to collect and search American citizens’ data without a warrant if they were in contact with targeted noncitizens located outside of the U.S. It facilitates tracking foreign intelligence, cyber threats and terrorism, which often collect Americans’ data in the process. It is set to expire Friday, and neither the House nor Senate have the votes to pass its extension.
Burchett said he voted against the extension to protect Americans’ rights protected under the Fourth Amendment, which prohibits searches and seizures without a warrant.
“I’ve always voted ‘no’ on that thing. The Fourth Amendment is there for a reason … FISA allows, remember those illegal searches and seizures done during the Biden administration? Literally thousands of them, some of these guys were FBI agents trying to hook up with some lady or something and it’s just pathetic abuse,” Burchett said.