House Speaker’s tie-breaker vote sides against requiring FBI to obtain warrants.
A proposed amendment to the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) bill, requiring the FBI to obtain a warrant before conducting searches of Americans’ communications, failed in the House of Representatives Friday with a tied vote.
?BREAKING: An amendment from Rep. Andy Biggs to require a warrant in order for the FBI to spy on Americans under FISA just failed 212-212.
— Greg Price (@greg_price11) April 12, 2024
The bipartisan bill, presented by Rep. Andy Biggs (R-Ariz.) and Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.), came down to a 212-212 vote, with House Speaker Mike Johnson reportedly voting against the provision.
212-212: The House fails to pass an amendment sponsored by former Freedom Caucus Chair Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) & Progressive Caucus Chair Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-WA).
GOP leaders and the Biden admin opposed the amendment, which would have imposed restrictions on the FISA program. pic.twitter.com/9KamzReXmE
— The Recount (@therecount) April 12, 2024
The bill sought to enshrine a privacy right already afforded to Americans via the US Constitution’s Fourth Amendment, which protects “the right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures,” and requires warrants based on probable cause.
“This is how the Constitution dies,” lamented Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.). “By a tie vote, the amendment to require a warrant to spy on Americans goes down in flames.”
“This is a sad day for America,” Massie stated, adding, “The Speaker doesn’t always vote in the House, but he was the tie breaker today. He voted against warrants.”
This is how the Constitution dies.
By a tie vote, the amendment to require a warrant to spy on Americans goes down in flames.
This is a sad day for America.
The Speaker doesn’t always vote in the House, but he was the tie breaker today. He voted against warrants. pic.twitter.com/i49GnCzyPm
— Thomas Massie (@RepThomasMassie) April 12, 2024
Evidently, the White House and Deep State apparatchiks were hard at work this morning sowing fear and doubt over the amendment and calling on legislators to vote it down.
Whoa: the White House is calling the 4th Amendment of the Constitution a threat to National Security. This is a real memo sent out today: the yellow-highlighted sections just translate euphemism (“the Biggs Amendment”) to plain language (Biggs’ warrant req). (Source below in QT) https://t.co/IFMDyeW6C8 pic.twitter.com/bzRhqYnEIt
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 12, 2024
This is unreal: Biden is twisting arms in Congress RIGHT NOW to try and bully them into legalizing the UNCONSTITUTIONAL search of Americans’ internet activity (#FISA 702) without a warrant! Call your rep and tell them to GET A WARRANT! https://t.co/l2axEqfF4Z
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) April 12, 2024
In a RARE public statement, CIA Director Bill Burns says we need FISA warrantless surveillance to stop fentanyl:
“Section 702 is an essential tool in CIA’s mission to protect the American people from a range of threats, including illicit fentanyl trafficking.”
This is absurd!…
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) April 12, 2024
Dan Crenshaw is literally begging his colleagues to support the deep state spying mechanism known as FISA ?
“The FBI HATES these reforms!”
“Please support this bill” pic.twitter.com/IT0nUVJ8Ww
— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) April 12, 2024
