Posted on 12/06/2023 10:07:10 AM PST by seanmerc
FBI Director Christopher Wray delivered a full-throated defense of a powerful spy authority on Tuesday, invoking the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and warning lawmakers that a watered-down surveillance program could leave the agency paralyzed to respond to threats.
“What could anybody possibly say to victims’ families if there was another attack that we could have prevented if we hadn’t given away the ability to effectively use a tool,” Wray told lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
“Because let’s not fool ourselves. That’s what’s at stake with the reauthorization,” he said.
Wray escalated his rhetoric as Congress this week considers legislation that would add privacy protections for American information collected under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires at the end of the year.
(Excerpt) Read more at rollcall.com ...
They can’t be trusted. If the access is so important then disband the FBI and give it to another agency that can be trusted.
Any attempt to defund the FBI or surveillance state will likely be met with a false-flag terrorist (or maybe now “white supremacist”) attack, just to keep everyone in line.
Yes, I believe they are that corrupt.
“We don’t need no stinkin’ authorization!”
Which federal agency CAN be trusted?
smells like a false flag might be needed soon. Something to dominate the news. Cant just keep riding 9-11 as an excuse to spy on American citizens.
Only the ones that are eliminated.
“What could anybody possibly say to victims’ families if there was another attack that we could have prevented...” And what did you say, FBI scum, to victims/s families after you screwed-up and allowed 9/11?
Yes Wray, it’s a tool. Like a gun is a tool. And rather than use it responsibly, you shot up Catholic Churches, School boards, and private citizens with it.
And Ukraine but not low priorities, our border and Israel.
I don’t trust the FBI. I don’t trust Wray. I think the FBI will continue to target enemies of the Democrat Party, not enemies of America.
At this point in time, not a single one of them.
Yea Ray, piss on my leg & tell me it’s raining.
FISA and its lickspittle rubber stamp court should be dismantled. They only exist to persecute real Americans.
I wouldn’t argue that premise, I’d want to hear exactly what Wray recommends to 1) protect the privacy of Americans, 2) Ensure that the law doesn’t get abused for political persecution.
I’d also kindly suggest Wray be asked about the INVASION of our Southern Border. Does he know how many terrorists came through last month? Last week? This morning?
I would have found hie Testimony in Contempt of Congress and locked his stupid ass up for 30 days.
“U.S. CODE
TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS
CHAPTER 6—CONGRESSIONAL AND COMMITTEE PROCEDURE; INVESTIGATIONS
Sec. 193. Privilege of witnesses
No witness is privileged to refuse to testify to any fact, or to produce any paper, respecting which he shall be examined by either House of Congress, or by any joint committee established by a joint or concurrent resolution of the two Houses of Congress, or by any committee of either House, upon the ground that his testimony to such fact or his production of such paper may tend to disgrace him or otherwise render him infamous.”
Simply look up Hinds Precedents, especially chapters 53 and 51, and Cannon’s Precedents, especially chapters 184-185. You’ll find numerous detailed cases of Congress asserting its power, arresting people, holding them until they agreed to answer questions, and then releasing them. Some of these people did not refuse to appear, but simply failed to satisfactorily answer questions.
Congress has the authority to arrest and imprison those found in Contempt. The power extends throughout the United States and is an inherent power (does not depend upon legislated act)
If found in Contempt the person can be arrested under a warrant of the Speaker of the House of Representatives or President of the Senate, by the respective Sergeant at Arms.
Statutory criminal contempt is an alternative to inherent contempt.
Under the inherent contempt power Congress may imprison a person for a specific period of time or an indefinite period of time, except a person imprisoned by the House of Representatives may not be imprisoned beyond adjournment of a session of Congress.
Imprisonment may be coercive or punitive.
Some references
[1] Joseph Story’s Commentaries on the Constitution, Volume 2, § 842 http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/print_documents/a1_5s21.html
[2] Anderson v. Dunn - 19 U.S. 204 - “And, as to the distance to which the process might reach, it is very clear that there exists no reason for confining its operation to the limits of the District of Columbia; after passing those limits, we know no bounds that can be prescribed to its range but those of the United States.” http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/19/204/case.html
[3] Jurney v. MacCracken, 294 U.S. 125 http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/294/125/case.html 73rd Cong., 78 Cong. Rec. 2410 (1934) https://archive.org/details/congressionalrec78aunit
[4] McGrain v. Daugherty, 273 U.S. 135 - Under a warrant issued by the President of the Senate the Deputy to the Senate Sergeant at Arms arrested at Cincinnati, Ohio, Mally S. Daugherty, who had been twice subpoenaed by the Senate and twice failed to appear. http://supreme.justia.com/cases/federal/us/273/135/case.html
[5] Rules of the House of Representatives, Rule IV Duties of the Sergeant at Arms - [] execute the commands of the House, and all processes issued by authority thereof, directed to him by the Speaker. http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/HMAN-105/pdf/HMAN-105-pg348.pdf
[6] An analysis of Congressional inquiry, subpoena, and enforcement http://www.constitutionproject.org/documents/when-congress-comes-calling-a-primer-on-the-principles-practices-and-pragmatics-of-legislative-inquiry/
In 1857, a New York Times reporter refused to say which members of Congress had asked him to get them bribes (protecting his “sources” just as various Judith Millers today protect the people who feed them proven lies that costs thousands of lives), so Congress locked him up until he answered and then banned him from Congress.
In 1924 an oil executive appeared but refused to answer certain questions, so the Senate held — literally held — him in contempt. Senator Thomas Walsh of Montana argued that this question of contempt was of the gravest importance, and that it involved “the very life of the effective existence of the House of Representatives of the United States and of the Senate of the United States.” The matter was taken to court, and the witness fined and imprisoned.
The FBI should be defunded, disbanded, and its former employees prohibited from ever working in law enforcement in any capacity ever again.
Obama/Holder’s FBI can’t be trusted
Terrorist attack?
You mean like from say, a foreign invading army? South American communists or narcoterrorists? Or perhaps Chinese PLA wearing civilian clothing walking into the US unimpeded?
Oh No, couldn’t be. Nope. It’s White guys from Michigan who drive GMC pickups and drink beer at Fat Eddie’s on the weekend.
Yup. Reason enuff to hand over massive power to the likes of Merrick Garfinkel, Al-eh-HANDRO My-Orcas and other “Real Americans”.
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