Mike Johnson had to postpone an important vote due to another GOP rebellion, according to a report
House GOP Members Threaten Mutiny Over Surveillance Act Vote
House GOP members on the Intelligence Committee reportedly threatened a mutiny if Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) went forward with holding a vote on renewing a section of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act this week.
Raj Shah, Johnson’s spokesman, announced on X on Wednesday afternoon that the House would not consider the bill that would revise Section 702 of FISA, which lets the government essentially use surveillance on foreign nationals outside the country without needing a warrant to do so, even if the party on the other side of communications is on American soil. The tool has been credited with preventing national security threats but criticized for spying on U.S. citizens.
“In order to allow Congress more time to reach consensus on how best to reform FISA and Section 702 while maintaining the integrity of our critical national security programs, the House will consider the reform and reauthorization bill at a later date,” Shah said.
While his message presented the idea of a united Republican front on this matter, sources told Fox News that the decision was anything but. While the House Rules Committee was going through the legislation, the sources claimed many members of the House Intelligence Committee threatened to tank a procedural vote that would effectively kill the bill.
“Instead of playing the game through Rules and regular order, Intel decided to take their ball and go home, walking away from the negotiated text and amendment plan without any understanding of why,” one source said.
The bill, which is a monthslong product of work between Judiciary and Intelligence committee members, was expected to hit the House floor this week for a full vote. Seven lawmakers were assigned to hash out a compromise on reforms for Section 702.
Judiciary and Intelligence members differed on what kind of changes they wanted to see to FISA. Judiciary members argued FISA was being abused to spy on U.S. citizens and sought severe restrictions on the bill, while Intelligence members argued the severe restrictions would hinder the federal government’s ability to prevent terrorist attacks.
Other sources told Fox News that the bill text was changed over the weekend to include an amendment from Rep. Warren Davidson (R-OH), a member of the Freedom Caucus who does not sit on the Rules or Intelligence committees. One source said Davidson’s amendment was ineligible for consideration because it was not deemed relevant, but the language was updated during the weekend.
“Someone in leadership staff ended up drafting text that got inserted into the base text over the weekend, so they basically airdropped … this one paragraph into the base text that now makes that amendment germane,” the source told Fox News. “The amendment totally screws FISA, the text that was added totally screws FISA in terms of its ability to be a national security tool.”
Davidson’s proposed amendment would have forced federal officers acting within FISA to seek a warrant before trying to obtain third-party-owned communications and location data of a U.S. citizen.
“This was airdropped in there,” a second source close to the Intelligence Committee said, referring to Davidson’s altered amendment text. “This was not something that the seven members of the working group had ever digested, ever looked at. So, really, it was disingenuous to think that that would be a part of that. And essentially, [House GOP leadership] agreed.”
It is not clear when the bill revising Section 702 will be brought back to the floor. However, Republicans have until April 19 to continue negotiations before FISA expires — an extension Johnson placed in the National Defense Authorization Act last year to buy time for more negotiations, much to the displeasure of hard-line Republicans.
Many GOP members have already threatened to withhold their support unless important changes are made.
“From my standpoint, unless there’s significant reform — and I mean significant reform,” Rep. Scott Perry (R-PA) said Tuesday. “Then you can count on me for a no vote.”
Why do proponents of the surveillance tool argue that it is crucial for national security?
Ndment that would impose additional restrictions on the use of FISA, but it remains unclear if this change was satisfactory to all members of the House GOP.
This division within the Republican Party over the renewal of Section 702 of FISA highlights the ongoing debate over national security and individual privacy rights. The section has been a subject of controversy since its inception, with critics arguing that it violates the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution, which protects against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Proponents of the surveillance tool argue that it is crucial for protecting national security and preventing potential terrorist attacks. They contend that the intelligence community needs the ability to monitor and gather information on foreign nationals who pose a threat to the United States, even if they are communicating with individuals on American soil.
However, concerns have been raised about the potential abuse of this power and the lack of oversight and transparency in the surveillance process. It is feared that innocent Americans may have their communications intercepted and collected without their knowledge or consent.
House GOP members on the Intelligence Committee who threatened to derail the vote likely did so out of a desire to address the concerns of their constituents and protect individual privacy rights. They may have felt that the proposed reforms to Section 702 did not go far enough in addressing these concerns and wanted further restrictions on the government’s surveillance powers.
This incident also highlights the challenges of finding a balance between national security and individual privacy rights. It is a complex issue with no easy solutions, as the government must balance the need for effective intelligence gathering with the protection of civil liberties.
Moving forward, it is crucial for lawmakers to engage in open and honest dialogue to find common ground on this issue. The renewal of Section 702 of FISA is an important decision that will have far-reaching implications for national security and individual privacy. It requires careful consideration and thoughtful debate to ensure that the rights of American citizens are protected while also maintaining the tools necessary to keep the country safe.
In conclusion, the threat of a mutiny within the House GOP over the renewal of Section 702 of FISA underscores the deep divide within the Republican Party on issues of national security and individual privacy. This incident highlights the need for open and constructive dialogue to find a solution that strikes the right balance between these competing interests. It is a complex issue that requires careful consideration and thoughtful debate to ensure the protection of civil liberties while also maintaining effective tools for national security.
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