White House pursues contentious espionage legislation renewal

(RT) ⸻ Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act allows agencies to spy on anyone, anywhere, and is set to expire at the end of the year. Attorney General Merrick Garland and Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines wrote to Congressional leaders on Tuesday, asking them to renew the law. They claimed that information gathered using Section 702 was instrumental in foiling cyberattacks, halting the trafficking of weapons of mass destruction, and thwarting foreign states' attempts to recruit spies in the US. Section 702 is a cornerstone of US national security, allowing the US to gather intelligence on any American whom a foreign surveillance target contacts. A report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) found that the FBI made "fewer than 3,394,053" queries of US citizens between December 2020 and November 2021, based on data obtained under Section 702. However, President Joe Biden will likely face opposition from some Republicans when it comes to renewing Section 270, and House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan has previously condemned the FBI for abusing the FISA process to illegally wiretap the ex-president.