Tipsheet

Graham Just Put FISA Reform on the Priority List for Next Year

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham is working on the legislative calendar for 2020 and just put FISA reform at the top of his priority list. 

On Tuesday afternoon, the FISA court issued a rare and scathing rebuke of the FBI for doctoring evidence, submitting misleading warrant applications and called into question all of the FBI's efforts to surveil American citizens. Graham is welcoming the statement. 

“Very pleased to see the FISA court condemn the FISA warrant application and process against Carter Page. As Inspector General Horowitz’s report describes in great detail, the FISA process falsified evidence and withheld exculpatory evidence to obtain a warrant against Mr. Page on numerous occasions," Graham said. “As chairman of the Judiciary Committee, I’ll be working with my Republican and Democratic colleagues to reform FISA in a fashion to better protect civil liberties while maintaining our ability to monitor foreign surveillance directed against our economic and national security interests. FISA reform will be a top priority for the Judiciary Committee in 2020.”

Meanwhile, Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz is on Capitol Hill again today testifying about FISA abuse.