The divisive act in question is known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which, in short, allows the federal government to spy and collect both domestic and even foreign communications, and thus allowing for warrantless searches and arrests if intelligence forces believe there to be a potential crime.
The act itself claims to not be spying on Americans domestically, but by allowing federal government agencies to database all foreign communications, thus providing them a loophole to spy on Americans and collect their personal data.
The Electric Frontier Foundation (EFF) summarized in a recent blog post what Section 702 does:
Section 702 is supposed to do exactly what its name promises: collection of foreign intelligence from non-Americans located outside the United States. As the law is written, the intelligence community cannot use Section 702 programs to target Americans, who are protected by the Fourth Amendment’s prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. But the law gives the intelligence community space to target foreign intelligence in ways that inherently and intentionally sweep in Americans’ communications.
The bill that was most recently passed, S. 139, endorses nearly all warrantless searches of databases containing Americans’ communications collected under Section 702. It allows for the restarting of “about” collection, an invasive type of surveillance that the NSA ended in 2017 after being criticized by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court for privacy violations. And it includes a six-year sunset, delaying Congress’ best opportunity to debate the limits NSA surveillance.
Moreover, Judge Andrew Napolitano, a former Fox News host, who has some history attached to his name concerning this statute, also warned in a post:
Section 702 is unconstitutional on its face as it directly contradicts the core language of the Fourth Amendment. It permits the feds to conduct warrantless surveillance on foreign persons who are either physically or digitally present in the United States and all with whom they communicate — American or foreign — who are located here.
Thus, for example, if you call or text or email an art dealer in Florence, Italy, from your home in New Jersey, or your cousin in Geneva, Switzerland, calls or texts or emails you at your home in California, the FBI can monitor all those communications without a search warrant. And then the feds can monitor the future calls you make and texts and emails you send and receive.
He wrote
The Fourth Amendment reads: “The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.”
The IV Amendment was written to combat this type of surveillance and breach of personal privacy and liberty, but the federal government continues to renew it since its birth in 2008. Napolitano blasts the politicians for allowing it to pass.
After 50 years of studying, teaching, writing about, judging, interpreting and just plain explaining the Constitution, I am convinced that those in government don’t believe its words or accept its values. They don’t feel bound by it.
They have crafted mechanisms of all sorts — like Section 702 — to evade and avoid it. They will claim that it impairs their duties. Yes, it does — intentionally so, and in the name of personal liberty. Today, liberty is impaired for foreign persons, an immutable characteristic. Tomorrow it could be impaired for any other immutable trait. Of what value is a Constitution with congressionally crafted, politically based exceptions? None.
The sunset clause would it allow this clause to fade away into obscurity and expire on December 31st, 2023. But, as hinted at by the EFF, Napolitano notes that, “Last week, President Joe Biden asked Congress to renew it. It should die a natural death,” he wrote. “Paraphrasing Justice George Sutherland, if the provisions of the Constitution are not upheld when they pinch as well as when they comfort, they may as well be abandoned.”
Napolitano noted in his post what has admittedly come of Section 702: “Six months ago, FBI officials boasted that in 2022 their agents had spied on only 120,000 Americans without search warrants! Under the Constitution, that number should be ZERO!,” the Judge argues.
The Judge Warns Trump To Not Renew, But Had His “Arm Twisted” To Sign It
When Donald Trump was President Section 702 was up for renewal in 2018, and at that time Napolitano was employed by Fox News. After bipartisan supported was given in order to resign the statute, Napolitano warned then as he is now that the bill is unconstitutional and completely disregards the 4th Amendment, and even was used against Trump himself to spy on his private conversation, and looked directly into the camera and told Trump not to sign it.
Trump ultimately signed it anyways but not before he hinted at some hesitancy and refusal to sign it, because Napolitano issued that warning. Napolitano provided some added context as to why Trump capitulated in a recent interview with Gerald Celente.
After Napolitano issued his plea to Trump to veto the renewal, Trump took to Twitter say that he was going to veto the bill. He wrote: “‘House votes on controversial FISA ACT today.’ This is the act that may have been used, with the help of the discredited and phony Dossier, to so badly surveil and abuse the Trump Campaign by the previous administration and others?” But then he changed his tune days later.
This is what purportedly happened according to the Judge:
All hell breaks loose. Mike Pence, Mitch McConnell, Paul Ryan, rush to the oval office, say, (according to somebody who was there), ‘You can’t sign this thing.’ [Trump said], “What about the Judge?” [They replied], “Eh, the Judge thinks the Constitution means what it says.”
So, Trump sent a message to me through this person who told me this who was in the oval office, “They twisted my arm, I’m going to sign it, but I think you’re right.”
Napolitano said
Trump would then soon tweet out,
With that being said, I have personally directed the fix to the unmasking process since taking office and today’s vote is about foreign surveillance of foreign bad guys on foreign land. We need it! Get smart!
On January 19th Trump then announced that he had just signed the renewal.
Just signed 702 Bill to reauthorize foreign intelligence collection. This is NOT the same FISA law that was so wrongly abused during the election. I will always do the right thing for our country and put the safety of the American people first!
Moreover, in an official statement from President Trump’s desk, his administration wrote in a statement:
Reauthorizing these authorities before they expire on January 19, 2018, in a manner that preserves their effectiveness, is a top priority of the Administration.
The Administration would prefer a clean and permanent extension of section 702 of FISA. The bill would, however, provide for a six-year reauthorization of section 702, a critical extension that will keep America safe from those who wish to do us harm.
Also, it is worth noting that at the time Napolitano issued his warning in 2018, he mentioned how U.S. Representative Jim Jordan, Ohio (R), was also in support of renewing this. Just recently Trump gave his open endorsement of Jordan for new Speaker of the House.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
Freedom in this country is gone, and Americans are out of touch and out of mind. They don’t care at all that their Constitutional rights have been overthrown and downtrodden. The Constitution and Bill of Rights are just tattered papers with scribble on them at this point, because our fathers, our ancestors, cared not to uphold them long ago. And here we are now. The truth is the Constitution has been suspended for a very long time, especially ever since World War II, where the active wartime powers and suspensions (which have not been officially repealed since then) thwart the Constitution. But people don’t understand this: the media and politicians give the allusion that we still have these rights, but in truth they have been suspended long ago.
As for Trump – I thought he was supposed to fight the globalists and “drain the swamp?” Guess not. It is acts like this that only continue to prove that the narrative surrounding Donald Trump, that he is some sort “Godsend” here to “Make America Great Again,” are just vain lies and propaganda; and once again proving all the “prophets” and “Christians” who continue to unflaggingly support and adulate him are deceived or are deceivers.
Thus saith the LORD of hosts, Hearken not unto the words of the prophets that prophesy unto you: they make you vain: they speak a vision of their own heart, and not out of the mouth of the LORD.
Jeremiah 23:16
As I have said before, the MAGA philosophy – the title of the highest rank in the Church of Satan – is just rebranded Soviet propaganda, that is designed to trick the masses into thinking they are on the side of truth and fighting against the evildoers, when in reality are tricked into accepting more despotism and oppression.
SEE: Operation “Trust:” The 100-Year-Old Psy-op Repackaged As Qanon
The Great Reset Versus The Great Awakening: Fighting For The Same Team
[7] Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock? [8] Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also? [9] For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen? [10] Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope. (1 Corinthians 9:7-10).
The WinePress needs your support! If God has laid it on your heart to want to contribute, please prayerfully consider donating to this ministry. If you cannot gift a monetary donation, then please donate your fervent prayers to keep this ministry going! Thank you and may God bless you.
Makes no difference what they sign or don’t sign, evil will continue on it’s path
Pro 25:19 Confidence in an unfaithful man in time of trouble is like a broken tooth, and a foot out of joint.
Pro 25:28 He that hath no rule over his own spirit is like a city that is broken down, and without walls.
Both kinda explains US Gov.
Spot on verses, David.
Proverbs 25:19 definitely goes to those who put their trust in Trump the Jesuit or some other “all-American ultra conservative” candidate. Stupid former lost me, I was a Trump supporting clown, when I was lost.
I know what explains the US gov. best 1 Timothy 6:9-10 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition. [10] For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
That too is right on the money(no pun intended). The KJV1611; Holy Ghost tells us many truths about what’s going on, don’t it.