FreedomWorks Statement in Response to Passage of Lee-Leahy FISA Reform Amendment

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Following the passage – by an overwhelming bipartisan majority – of an amendment sponsored by Sens. Mike Lee (R-Utah) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) to increase the involvement of amici curiae in FISA court proceedings and to require that the government disclose exculpatory evidence in such proceedings, Jason Pye, FreedomWorks’ Vice President of Legislative Affairs, commented:

“The Lee-Leahy amendment is an important reform that moves the FISA process closer to the standards of due process that the Constitution demands. By increasing the use of the amici curiae and broadening their access to information, Americans targeted under FISA will more often have someone advocating for their rights during these secret proceedings, and the likelihood is greatly decreased that intelligence agencies can abuse their surveillance power and get away with it.

“Had the protections established by Lee-Leahy been in place in years past, it is probable that both the FBI’s misconduct in spying on the Trump campaign and the dragnet mass metadata surveillance orders revealed by Eric Snowden would have been caught and subjected to scrutiny. Thank you to Senators Lee and Leahy, along with Senators Daines, Wyden, and Paul, for forcing Senate leadership to allow this important vote to take place and winning this modest but important protection for our Fourth Amendment rights.”