Small Band Of Republicans Stall Surveillance Law Revamp In House

Rebellious House Republicans on Wednesday turned back an effort to renew an anti-terror surveillance law that’s been used in the past to spy on Americans, leaving its fate up in the air less than 10 days before it’s set to expire.

The fight over the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — and particularly the post-9/11-era spying provision Section 702 — has pitted both Republicans and Democrats worried about civil liberties against a similarly bipartisan group that sees the law as a crucial tool in the country’s national security toolbox.

Nineteen Republicans bucked party leaders and voted against allowing the renewal bill and amendments to be debated on the House floor, stalling its progress with a 193-228 vote.

“The constitutional liberties of Americans have to come first. We don’t bend the constitution for anything,” said Rep. Bob Good (R-Va.) after the vote.

Hours before the vote, former President Donald Trump cheered the opposition on social media, calling on lawmakers to “KILL FISA.”

FISA authorizes surveillance programs against foreign individuals abroad. But in eavesdropping on those communications, exchanges with U.S. citizens can also be captured — meaning, critics say, the program effectively allows for “backdoor” searches of Americans’ communications.

Tuesday’s outcome was another defeat for embattled House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), who attempted unsuccessfully to tread a thin line between the competing FISA factions in his own conference.

Firebrand Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) has threatened to call a vote to take the speaker’s gavel away from Johnson , similar to what happened with his predecessor, former California representative Kevin McCarthy in October. She has cited Johnson’s stances on