Emerald Coast Times

U.S. Congressman Matt Gaetz (FL-01) has voiced his opposition to the FISA Section 702 reauthorization bill, citing concerns about potential violations of Americans' Fourth Amendment rights. In a statement released after voting against the rule to bring the bill to the House floor, Congressman Gaetz expressed his apprehensions about the lack of essential reforms in the reauthorization.

“FISA authorities have been used to violate the law more than 278,000 times by the national security state, and there has yet to be any consequences for this illegal activity by our government," Gaetz stated. He emphasized that the reauthorization fails to include crucial protections, such as requiring the FBI to obtain a warrant before accessing Americans' data and prohibiting the government from purchasing data from third-party brokers.

Gaetz also highlighted his previous support for a bipartisan bill in the House Judiciary Committee that contained necessary reforms to safeguard Americans from unconstitutional searches. However, he criticized Speaker Johnson for not prioritizing a vote on that bill and instead pushing forward legislation that could potentially expand FBI authorities to infringe on Americans' right to privacy.

"If Speaker Johnson is unwilling to fix FISA Section 702, we are left wondering what he is indeed willing to fix," Gaetz questioned. He expressed disappointment in the lack of progress on critical issues like the budget and border security, while raising concerns about the potential enhancements to surveillance authorities under the reauthorization.

In light of these concerns, Congressman Gaetz's stance against the FISA Section 702 reauthorization bill underscores the ongoing debate surrounding national security measures and privacy rights in the United States. For further updates from Congressman Gaetz, interested individuals can subscribe to his newsletter for more information.