Vindman Votes Against Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act Reauthorization

Vindman: " Under leadership that respects norms and the rule of law, my vote would have been different."

Washington, D.C. - Congressman Eugene Vindman (Va.-07) today released the following statement after voting against the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act.

"As a prosecutor and former Army JAG officer, I understand how vital the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act is to keeping our country safe. But these authorities demand trust, and I do not trust President Trump and FBI Director Kash Patel to use them lawfully and responsibly.

"This administration has shown a willingness to weaponize the justice system, raising serious concerns about the protection of Americans' privacy and civil liberties. Last week, the New York Times reported that Kash Patel had "queried databases" about a journalist who wrote an article he didn't like. That is exactly the type of abuse that prior reforms were intended to fix. For that reason, I could not vote to reauthorize this program.

"Ultimately, this is about balancing individual rights and national security. Under leadership that respects norms and the rule of law, my vote would have been different."

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