FBI broke rules in scouring foreign intelligence on Jan. 6 riot, racial justice protests, court says

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press, via WTOP

FBI broke rules in scouring foreign intelligence on Jan. 6 riot, racial justice protests, court says

The Associated Press

May 19, 2023, 2:24 PM

WASHINGTON (AP) — FBI officials repeatedly violated their own standards when they searched a vast repository of foreign intelligence for information related to the Jan. 6, 2021, insurrection at the U..S. Capitol and racial justice protests in 2020, according to a heavily blacked-out court order released Friday.

FBI officials said the thousands of violations, which also include improper searches of donors to a congressional campaign, predated a series of corrective measures that started in the summer of 2021 and continued last year. But the problems could nonetheless complicate FBI and Justice Department efforts to receive congressional reauthorization of a warrantless surveillance program that law enforcement officials say is needed to counter terrorism, espionage and international cybercrime.

The violations were detailed in a secret court order issued last year by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, which has legal oversight of the U.S. government’s spy powers. The Office of the Director of the National Intelligence released a redacted version on Friday in what officials said was the interest of transparency. Members of Congress received the order when it was issued last year.

{snip}

At issue are improper queries of foreign intelligence information collected under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which enables the government to gather the communications of targeted foreigners outside the U.S. That program expires at the end of the year unless it is renewed.

{snip}

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Read more: https://wtop.com/government/2023/05/fbi-says-past-searches-of-foreign-intelligence-database-broke-standards-but-reforms-have-been-made/

[Shipwack]

1. I'm torn on this...

I want the FBI to turn over every rock with regard to 1/6. I don't see why they shouldn't be able look at specific foreigners outside of the U.S.(unless we're talking about a jurisdiction thing, I guess).

On the other hand, I am not a fan of warrantless searches, and think they are prone to being abused. Maybe this is a case of Republicans whining when it is their ox being gored?

[PatrickforB]

2. Let me guess...Trump appointed judge?

Cause this sure does give the House GOP ammunition on their fight agin' gummint 'weaponization'.

[Martin68]

3. The firewall between the FBI and foreign intelligence was one cause of 9/11 not being prevented.

It seems to me any and every resource should be available to the FBI when protecting the security of the country. The purpose of an investigation should determine who resources they can use.

[cstanleytech]

4. How can it not be ok to use foreign intelligence sources for this but ok for LEO to use things like

the varies DNA sites data as well as foreign LEO for catching other types of criminals?