FBI chief's claim on surveillance abuse doesn't fit the evidence

The Hill ^ | 12/15/17 01:50 PM EST | Sharyl Attkisson

[Texas Fossil]

I caught my breath when I heard FBI Director Christopher Wray testify to Congress that there’s been no abuse of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the law under which our intelligence communities electronically spy on possible terrorists and sometimes capture private communications of innocent U.S. citizens. Section 702 and related components expire Dec. 31, and Congress must decide whether to renew them.

To see if I’d heard Wray correctly, I searched for a transcript of his testimony. I found that he’d delivered the same line during an Oct. 13 Heritage Foundation speech. Wray claimed, “There’s been no evidence of any kind of abuse of power under Section 702 despite the oversight … with the three branches of government and quite a few years of experience now.”

[Texas Fossil]

Sharyl Attkisson: I’m not advocating either way. But to claim there’s no evidence of abuse is to ignore the record. It seems like important decisions should be made based on the full facts.

The FBI has a current serious credibility issue. Papering over it with an outright false statement will not fix it.

[Flick Lives]

“There’s been no evidence of any kind of abuse of power under Section 702 ...

---

Perhaps the FBI has a different idea of the meaning of the word “abuse of power”. Perhaps they only think it’s an abuse of power if their power to do what they want when they want is restricted in any fashion. Perhaps the idea of surveilling a political candidate is “just doing their job” to them. An “insurance policy”, perhaps.

[txhurl]

Sheryl will eventually get to see her own FISA warrant, and the application. They *installed* taps physically on her house posing as cable line-adds.

[Sir Napsalot]

Just another Obama’s gift to the Americans.

He [and his string master(s)] weaponized federal agencies to prosecute his foes.

After he leaves office, as scandals after scandals unravel, public distrust of the public institutions is yet another of Obama’s parting gifts.

[Truth29]

The FBI is working on becoming America’s Stasi. The FBI, plus the spy agencies, are in full blown rebellion against the American people and are using the power of the government to suppress the people.

[Texas Fossil]

And lying every breath to cover the action up.

[Texas Fossil]

Yep

[Texas Fossil]

Yes, they did and she is relentless in pursuing the people who did it.

[American in Israel]

Strange that the FBI who is so strict about people lying to them feel so free to lie to Congress.

[Texas Fossil]

Lying?

Bump

[Wonder Warthog]

"Perhaps the FBI has a different idea of the meaning of the word “abuse of power”."

Of course they do. It's the same idea Democrats have.....that it is only an abuse of power if done by Republicans.

[littleharbour]

The FBI and DOJ weasels have perfected the art of never answering a question. Their standard operating procedure is to get people on the record then parse every answer for any ambiguity or memory lapse that they can use to charge the person with “lying” to the FBI. President Trump needs to fire Rosenstein, Sessions, Wray, McCabe and the rest of the weasels for intentionally misleading the American people and covering up crimes and treason within their organizations. Testifying that they don’t have authority to say if Strzok used the Dossier to obtain a FISA warrant is a bald faced lie. I’d like to see Rosenstein in cuffs. ⚖️

[Eric in the Ozarks]

Th agency needs a thorough back flush, top to bottom.

[ptsal]

Cheryl did not know about the benefits of amateur radio.

Perhaps, Nellie Ohr can provide technical insight.

73s

[Joe Boucher]

FBI=No confidence
Once great proud law enforcement agency. Today a biased horse crap JOKE.

[Gay State Conservative]

I'll bet that Sharyl Attkisson’s life insurance premiums are through the roof!

[60Gunner]

If we do not do something about this, there will come a time in this country when a young person aspiring to join the FBI or DOJ will be on the same moral level as a young person in the 1930s aspiring to join the Waffen SS or Gestapo.

[Texas Fossil]

“If we do not do something about this”

Will it come to “Lets Roll”?

[Texas Fossil]

Yep, and several others with it.

[JohnnyP]

I once read that if you tell the FBI you are going to record the “interview”, they will decline to proceed with the interview.