Staff Reports
The FBI is set to get the power to spy on people without having to get warrants reapproved by Congress after House Speaker Mike Johnson chose not to stand firm. Senator Rand Paul criticized Speaker Johnson for voting with Democrats to pass the revised FISA bill. He accused Speaker Johnson of not showing any backbone and acting no differently than the Democrats in power.
Rand Paul Has Some Tough Words for Speaker Johnson Over the FISA Bill https://t.co/7xbHKBTCaM. @SpeakerJohnson is such a disappointment. He lied about furnishing all J6 videos, the $1.2 trillion waste of taxpayer money and now this. He is so pathetic and weak!
— Bigmoe (@Bigmoe16574013) April 16, 2024
Many conservatives are disappointed in Speaker Johnson’s behavior. They believe that he is not using the power he has to make a difference and that his actions are not in line with the values of the Republican Party. Some are even suggesting that he is not acting any differently than the Democrats themselves. This has led to movement to challenge his role as speaker.
It’s clear that the FBI should not be given the authority to conduct surveillance without warrants, as they have shown more interest in targeting conservative Americans than in tackling radical Islamic terrorism. Despite this, the Republican-controlled House passed a two-year extension of the warrantless FISA program, which has been misused in the past to target members of the Trump campaign.
Speaker Johnson initially opposed the FISA reauthorization before changing his position after a classified briefing from the FBI. This turn of events demonstrates the problems with how things work in Washington, where pressure from government agencies can sway lawmakers’ decisions.
The bill was met with widespread skepticism, but ultimately passed after Speaker Johnson proposed a shorter extension and convinced enough Republicans to allow it to move forward. This has left many feeling that a new Congress and a new president are needed.
