Changes

Under FISA, if the government makes certain allegations,<ref>being an "agent of a foreign power," member of a terrorist organization or drug cartel, illegal weapons smuggler, acting against the national security interests of the United States for example.</ref> an American citizen and his or her entire network of contacts, and your contacts' contacts, can be striped of your constitutional rights of due process, right to counsel, and the right to face your accusers by a court meeting in secret without you ever being notified what has happened.

Under FISA, if the government makes certain allegations,<ref>being an "agent of a foreign power," member of a terrorist organization or drug cartel, illegal weapons smuggler, acting against the national security interests of the United States for example.</ref> an American citizen and his or her entire network of contacts, and your contacts' contacts, can be striped of your constitutional rights of due process, right to counsel, and the right to face your accusers by a court meeting in secret without you ever being notified what has happened.

Former U.S. Attorney and ''[[National Review]]'' journalist  covering [[national security]] Andrew McCarthy writes {{quotebox|FISA authorities are not criminal-law authorities. It is not just that FISA is not designed to ferret out evidence of crime; it is not permitted to be used for that purpose. FISA’s objective is the collection of foreign intelligence, the gathering of information about the actions and intentions of foreign powers that may threaten American interests.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/trump-russia-probe-fbi-fisa-application/</ref>}}

Former U.S. Attorney and ''[[National Review]]'' journalist  covering [[national security]] Andrew McCarthy writes {{quotebox|FISA authorities are not criminal-ulaw authorities. It is not just that '''FISA is not designed to ferret out evidence of [[crime]]; it is not permitted to be used for that purpose'''. FISA’s objective is the collection of foreign intelligence, the gathering of information about the actions and intentions of foreign powers that may threaten American interests.<ref>https://www.nationalreview.com/2018/09/trump-russia-probe-fbi-fisa-application/</ref>}}

There exists within the statute a potential that allows for domestic spying on political opponents similar to the abuses which toppled President [[Richard Nixon]].<ref>[http://lawnewz.com/opinion/sally-yates-should-be-investigated-for-her-possible-role-in-watergate-style-surveillance/ Sally Yates Should Be Investigated For Her Possible Role in Watergate-Style Surveillance], by Robert Barnes, February 15th, 2017</ref> Such abuses, and more,<ref>[http://www.gopbuzz.com/blog/2013/04/19/obama-has-achieved-imperial-presidency-that-nixon-wanted-by-georgetown-law-professor-jonathan-turley/ Obama Has Achieved Imperial Presidency That Nixon Wanted], Jonathan Turley, April 19, 2013</ref> have in fact occurred against the campaign of [[Donald Trump]] during the Presidency of [[Barack Obama]].<ref>''New York Times'' reports "In the Obama administration’s last days, some '''White House officials scrambled to spread information about''' Russian efforts to undermine the presidential election — and about possible contacts between associates of '''President-elect Donald Trump''' and Russians — '''across the government.''' [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html?_r=0]</ref> Abuses such as spying on members of Congress,<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/03/10/kucinich_i_was_wiretapped_as_a_congressman_they_can_certainly_tap_a_presidential_candidate.html Kucinich: I Was Wiretapped As A Congressman, They Can Certainly Tap A Presidential Candidate], Ian Schwartz, March 10, 2017</ref> congressional committees tasked with overseeing agencies that administer the law,<ref>

There exists within the statute a potential that allows for domestic spying on political opponents similar to the abuses which toppled President [[Richard Nixon]].<ref>[http://lawnewz.com/opinion/sally-yates-should-be-investigated-for-her-possible-role-in-watergate-style-surveillance/ Sally Yates Should Be Investigated For Her Possible Role in Watergate-Style Surveillance], by Robert Barnes, February 15th, 2017</ref> Such abuses, and more,<ref>[http://www.gopbuzz.com/blog/2013/04/19/obama-has-achieved-imperial-presidency-that-nixon-wanted-by-georgetown-law-professor-jonathan-turley/ Obama Has Achieved Imperial Presidency That Nixon Wanted], Jonathan Turley, April 19, 2013</ref> have in fact occurred against the campaign of [[Donald Trump]] during the Presidency of [[Barack Obama]].<ref>''New York Times'' reports "In the Obama administration’s last days, some '''White House officials scrambled to spread information about''' Russian efforts to undermine the presidential election — and about possible contacts between associates of '''President-elect Donald Trump''' and Russians — '''across the government.''' [https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/01/us/politics/obama-trump-russia-election-hacking.html?_r=0]</ref> Abuses such as spying on members of Congress,<ref>[http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2017/03/10/kucinich_i_was_wiretapped_as_a_congressman_they_can_certainly_tap_a_presidential_candidate.html Kucinich: I Was Wiretapped As A Congressman, They Can Certainly Tap A Presidential Candidate], Ian Schwartz, March 10, 2017</ref> congressional committees tasked with overseeing agencies that administer the law,<ref>