Nation
Jordan, Biggs demand answers from Wray on FISA abuses

The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) recently declassified a November 2020 opinion memo raising concerns about the FBI’s “apparent widespread violations” of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and House Judiciary Ranking Member Jim Jordan (R-OH) and Rep. Andy Biggs (R-AZ) are demanding that FBI Director Chris Wray answer to the opinion. The two lawmakers sent a letter Tuesday, which also asked Wray how he is reforming the FBI to ensure the process is being used in a constitutional manner.
In their letter, Jordan and Biggs note that the ODNI’s memo highlights the misuse of FISA’s Section 702, which states that the government can permit the surveillance of foreigners outside the U.S. for national security purposes, to spy on American citizens.
The two Republican lawmakers also cite Department of Justice Inspector General Michael Horowitz’s December 2019 report showing abuse of the FISA process to illegally spy on members of the Trump campaign. The report revealed 17 “errors and omissions” and 51 incorrect points used as a basis for the surveillance.
Wray previously said the FISA warrant obtained against former Trump campaign aide Carter Page wasn’t justified and he’s promised to reform the system, but Jordan and Biggs aren’t convinced that anything has changed.
The FBI declined to comment on the letter, in an email to this reporter.
The Republican Congressmen ask Wray to provide the following:
“The recently released FISC opinion only raises more questions about the FBI’s respect for the constitutional and statutory parameters of FISA. Given the seriousness of this matter for civil liberties, please provide the following information immediately:
1. Please explain why almost a year after the OIG’s report about FISA abuses, the FISC found the FBI to still be abusing its warrantless surveillance authority under section 702.
2. Please provide a detailed accounting of every instance since December 2019 in which the FBI has queried, accessed, otherwise used information obtained pursuant to section 702 for purposes unrelated to national security.
3. Please explain what actions you have taken in the wake of the FISC’s November 2020 memorandum opinion and order to prevent the FBI from using its section 702 authorities to surveil, investigate, or otherwise examine U.S. citizens.”
You can follow Jennie Taer on Twitter @JennieSTaer

Nation
Hunter Biden Faces Devastating Tax Charges, Adding to Legal Woes

In a significant legal blow to President Biden’s son, Hunter Biden, a California indictment reveals a litany of tax charges, compounding his legal troubles after his earlier plea of not guilty to federal gun charges. Former Whitewater deputy counsel Sol Wisenberg emphasized on “FOX & Friends” the devastating nature of the indictment, considering it a vindication of IRS whistleblowers.
Furthermore, Wisenberg contends that the indictment could have surfaced much earlier, pointing to the IRS whistleblowers’ struggle to keep the investigation ongoing. The legal battle, which involved Judge Maryellen Noreika in a Delaware courtroom, prevented what Wisenberg calls a “hinky plea deal” from proceeding. According to reports from Fox News, the former counsel believes that the defense attorneys for Hunter Biden may have overreached in their plea deal negotiations, leading to the current legal turmoil.
The California indictment specifically accuses Hunter Biden of failing to pay nearly $200,000 in income tax for the year 2019. This follows his October plea of not guilty to federal gun charges in the District of Delaware, a case originating from a lengthy investigation.
As the legal noose tightens around Hunter Biden, the latest tax charges come at a critical time. House Republican leaders are gearing up for a vote next week on a measure that could formally initiate an impeachment inquiry into President Biden. The proposed inquiry revolves around potential connections between the president and his son’s business dealings, further intensifying the political and legal challenges faced by the Biden family.
The unfolding legal drama poses a serious threat to Hunter Biden’s reputation and, consequently, could impact the Biden administration’s stability as it faces increasing scrutiny from political adversaries.
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