Trump opposition throws surveillance-expansion legislation in doubt
WASHINGTON— Legislation to extend surveillance authorities that the FBI sees as vital in fighting terrorism was thrown in doubt Wednesday as President Donald Trump, the Justice Department and congressional Republicans all came out in opposition.
The legislation passed the House with bipartisan support in March after Attorney General William Barr negotiated a deal with Republican and Democratic House leaders. But that consensus began to crumble after Trump signaled he would veto the latest version of the bill, which was amended by the Senate.
The Justice Department on
Wednesday announced its opposition to the legislation, including a proposed House amendment that would place restrictions on searches of Americans' internet browsing history. Hours later, House Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Cal if ., said it was time to take a “pause” on the legislation.
The Republican criticism could be a fatal blow to the prospects of renewing the surveillance law, as the bill also faces opposition from some Democrats concerned about civil liberties.
The House had been expected to start voting on the legislation Wednesday, but it was unclear how Democratic leaders would move forward. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., told reporters that “we will act upon it today, one way or another.”
But the new impasse raised the potential for the surveillance power store main expired indefinitely.
Trump, still see thin gov er the Russia investigation, implored all House Republicans in a Tuesday evening tweet to vote no on the bill “until such time as our Country is able to determine how and why the greatest political, criminal, and subversive scandal in USA history took place!”
The Justice Department said it op poses both the proposed House amendment to restrict internet searches and language added by the Senate earlier this month to boost third-party oversight to protect individuals in some surveillance cases.
The statement, by Assistant
Attorney General Stephen Boyd, said the latest version of the bill would“weak en national security tools while doing nothing to address the abuses” identified by the Justice Department inspector general in his report on the FBI investigation into ties between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign. The department urged Trump to veto the legislation.
McCarthy told reporters that the bill won't be signed into law because both the attorney general and the president have questions, so it was time to take a “deep breath.” He said lawmakers passed the bill with bipartisan majorities before and should try again to negotiate a compromise.
“If the Democrats bring this bill up they're just playing politics,” McCarthy said. “And this is not something to play politics with.”
The statements underscored the tortuous process Congress has faced in renewing the surveillance powers in the wake of an inspector general report that documented serious errors and mistakes in how the FBI used its authorities during the Russia investigation. Those problems included errors and omissions in applications the FBI submitted under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to monitor a former Trump campaign adviser.
Republicans have histori cally been hawkish on preserving surveillance powers in the name of national security. But Trump's GOP allies have joined the president over the last year in demanding that any renewal of the FBI's powers be accompanied by significant new restrictions.