FISA reauthorizations in doubt after findings that FBI surveillance was riddled with major errors

New findings by the Justice Department inspector general that the FBI has repeatedly violated surveillance rules could impact Congress' pending reauthorization of key powers related to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court (FISC), with top Republican lawmakers already saying the DOJ report will have major consequences for surveillance law.

Several surveillance provisions under the 2015 USA Freedom Act have lapsed in recent weeks, at least temporarily, because the House has not yet passed the Senate's 77-day temporary extension. The House had amended portions of the law in its own proposed three-year reauthorization, but the Senate couldn't reach an agreement on the matter and decided to try to punt the matter so that lawmakers could focus on the coronavirus pandemic.

The three lapsed provisions include the "roving wiretap" power, which enables authorities to obtain a warrant from the FISC without identifying the target, and while following a target from one device to another. Also included is the "lone wolf" power, which allows authorities to obtain a FISA court warrant without demonstrating that the target is working for a foreign entity. A records provision that allows authorities to seize telephone metadata and banking records, among other documents, is also suspended.

The DOJ has called on Congress to renew the surveillance provisions, even as it acknowledged they were not perfect.

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https://www.foxnews.com/politics/fisa-reauthorization-may-be-derailed-by-new-doj-inspector-general-findings-of-widespread-errors