FBI head Christopher Wray pushes for renewal of ‘absolutely vital’ spying power
Brady Knox
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FBI Director Christopher Wray is pushing to renew a major spy program.
An unlikely alliance of right- and left-wingers in Congress has pushed this year to overhaul Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a provision that allows the government to spy on the emails and electronic communications of foreigners living abroad. The provision has come under harsh criticism due to the revelation that the FBI misused data collected under the provision to spy on Americans. Despite criticism, the Biden administration has made it a top priority to renew the provision, arguing that it is essential for national security.
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On Thursday, Wray joined the fray, giving his support to the Biden administration’s argument that Section 702 is highly important to national security.
“702 authority is vital, absolutely vital — not important, not nice-to-have — vital,” he said at a “Spy Chat” event at the International Spy Museum, Politico reported. Letting it expire, “would, in my view, be an act of unilateral disarmament in the face of the Chinese Communist Party,” he added.
He also criticized members of Congress who took issue with the FBI’s past snooping on Americans under different powers, arguing that Section 702 is a “totally different authority.”
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Despite Wray’s claim, it has been documented that the FBI used Section 702 to spy on Americans, including a senator, a state lawmaker, and a state judge, court records revealed in July.
Section 702 is due to expire on Dec. 31, with lawmakers set to vote on its renewal. The coalition opposing it has run into trouble in recent months as the aims of reforms differ between members.