FISA

Latest in FISA

Justice Department Inspector General Finds Broader Pattern of Errors in FISA Applications

Elliot Setzer Tue, Mar 31, 2020, 11:43 AM

A new report released by the Justice Department inspector general found errors or lost information in all of the U.S. Person FISA applications it reviewed following its report on the FBI’s “Crossfire Hurricane” investigation into members of the Trump campaign. Each of the 29 applications reviewed contained inaccuracies, including missing files in four FISA applications and errors or inadequately supported facts in the 25 other applications.

Read more about Justice Department Inspector General Finds Broader Pattern of Errors in FISA Applications

FISA Reform

What Happened to FISA Reform?

Margaret Taylor Tue, Mar 17, 2020, 3:06 PM

On March 16, the Senate punted on the issue of reforming the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act—a sign of just how dysfunctional Congress and the executive branch have become.

Read more about What Happened to FISA Reform?

FISA

House Reaches FISA Reauthorization Deal

Quinta Jurecic Tue, Mar 10, 2020, 9:33 PM

House leadership has reached a deal to reauthorize portions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act otherwise set to expire on March 15. The bill is available here and below.

Read more about House Reaches FISA Reauthorization Deal

FISA reform

FISA Court Issues Opinion Regarding Surveillance Request Reforms

Elliot Setzer Thu, Mar 5, 2020, 12:48 PM

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) on Wednesday largely accepted changes the FBI plans to make to its process for seeking warrants. The court also temporarily barred some FBI officials mentioned in the Office of the Inspector General's report from appearing before the court.

Read more about FISA Court Issues Opinion Regarding Surveillance Request Reforms

FISA

House Judiciary Introduces FISA Reauthorization

Elliot Setzer Mon, Feb 24, 2020, 5:03 PM

The House Judiciary Committee today introduced draft legislation to reauthorize the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Among other things, the draft legislation would repeal authority to access call detail records on an ongoing basis, and would also require the declassification review and public release of significant decisions, orders, and opinions within 180 days of being issued. The proposed legislation would expand mandatory reporting on the number of search terms and queries concerning a U.S.

Read more about House Judiciary Introduces FISA Reauthorization

FISA

FISC Declassifies Order About Carter Page FISA Applications

Jacob Schulz Thu, Jan 23, 2020, 2:53 PM

The Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) has declassified an order about the Department of Justice's handling of 2016 and 2016 applications for Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) warrant for Trump campaign associate Carter Page. The Dec. 2019 Office of Inspector General (OIG) Report about the FBI's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election devoted considerable discussion to the Page warrants.

Read more about FISC Declassifies Order About Carter Page FISA Applications

FISA

David Kris Submits Amicus Letter Brief to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

Quinta Jurecic Wed, Jan 15, 2020, 1:24 PM

David Kris, whom the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court appointed as amicus curiae to review the FBI's filing before the court regarding FBI and Justice Department practices in filing FISA warrants, has filed a letter brief with the court in response to the FBI's submission. The brief is available here and below.

Read more about David Kris Submits Amicus Letter Brief to Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court

FISA

FBI Responds to FISA Court Order Regarding Inspector General Report

Quinta Jurecic Sat, Jan 11, 2020, 10:44 AM

The FBI has filed a response to the order of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC) requesting further information on FBI and Justice Department practices in filing FISA warrants before the court in the wake of the Justice Department inspector general's report identifying failures in the Carter Page FISA application. The document is available here.