Secret court objected to spy tools

Seven months ago, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court objected to search filters letting intelligence analysts read Americans' messages without required approvals, justifications or records.

Court approved another year anyway

The court approved another year of surveillance despite its objections. The ruling has never been made public, and senators say the administration missed its legal deadline to release it.

The program lets agents spy without warrants

Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act lets federal agents read Americans' communications without a warrant. Congress failed to renew it in June, though collection continues under the court's March approval.

Deadline to release ruling passed

The administration's own rules say rulings like this must be reviewed for public release within one hundred eighty days of issuance.

Senators demand explanation by November 6

Ron Wyden of Oregon and Adam Schiff of California say the administration owes Congress an explanation for the delay and the names of officials responsible, by November 6.

Senators question government trustworthiness

Wyden and Schiff told Director of National Intelligence Jay Clayton and Attorney General Todd Blanche: if the administration won't follow this simple statutory directive, why should Congress trust it to follow other legal limits to…

“If this administration won't follow this simple statutory directive, it is unclear why Congress or the American people should trust this administration to follow any of the other legal limits to Section 702.”

Civil liberties groups oppose renewal

Demand Progress and twenty-two other civil liberties and government accountability groups urged congressional leaders Monday to refuse reauthorizing Section 702 while the administration withholds legally mandated information about how the program operates.

Court found tools amount to searches

The court found that tools agencies use to narrow intercepted data to an American's messages amount to searches of Americans, subject to the same legal limits, and ordered them rebuilt.

Lawmakers hint ruling says more

Senator Dick Durbin urged colleagues to read the ruling in a secure room in June.

“your opinion of the role of FISA and the rights of Americans will be impacted for sure.”

Court approval expires in March

The Trump administration has until November 6 to answer the senators. The court's current approval of the program expires in March, and surveillance reform advocates say the administration may try to renew it through the…