FBI director warns of unprecedented terror threats, sees 'blinking red lights everywhere'
FBI director warns of unprecedented terror threats, sees ‘blinking red lights everywhere’
FBI Director Christopher Wray testified on Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, expressing deep concerns about the unprecedented level of terror threats facing the United States since the October 7 attack on Israel, reported Fox News. Senator Lindsey Graham inquired about the current “threat matrix,” prompting Wray to highlight the unique and alarming situation.
Wray remarked, “While there may have been times over the years where individual threats could have been higher here or there than where they may be right now, I’ve never seen a time where all the threats or so many of the threats are all elevated, all at exactly the same time.” He drew a parallel to the “blinking red lights” analogy of the pre-9/11 era, emphasizing the pervasive nature of the current elevated threats.
In a related development, Director Wray urged the Senate committee to renew the authority of the U.S. government for warrantless surveillance outside the country. Wray argued that failing to extend the sweeping surveillance powers provided by Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act would amount to “a form of unilateral disarmament.”
Highlighting threats from Iran and China, Wray emphasized the critical role of Section 702 in national security. The authority, set to expire at the end of the month, has faced scrutiny from lawmakers on both sides of the aisle, particularly regarding the surveillance of U.S. citizens picked up in foreign-targeted surveillance.
The FBI director acknowledged concerns and stated, “Stripping the FBI of its 702 authorities would be a form of unilateral disarmament,” underscoring the potential impact on countering cyber threats and thwarting foreign intelligence operations against the United States.
Amidst ongoing debates over surveillance powers, bipartisan legislation has been introduced to impose new limits on searches of Americans’ communications and restrict “backdoor” searches invoking foreign intelligence justifications to spy on U.S. citizens.
Director Wray assured the Senate panel that the FBI would be “good stewards of our authorities” and outlined reforms made by the bureau in response to criticisms of law enforcement’s use of surveillance laws. The hearing follows Wray’s recent challenges from congressional Republicans on various issues, including the Capitol attack investigation, Hunter Biden’s probe, and allegations of the FBI pressuring social media companies to censor conservatives.
(with inputs from Reuters)
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