Changes

The purported evidence against Michael Cohen was gathered by the [[Obama administration]]'s illegal misuse of [[FISA]] Title I surveillance authority. FISA Title I surveillance of U.S. citizens is the most intrusive, exhaustive and far reaching type of search, seizure and surveillance authority, permitting the FBI to look at every aspect of a target's life.  All communication, travel and contact can be opened and reviewed.  All aspects of any of the target's engagements are subject to being secretly monitored. The authority is only granted by the FISA court when the [[Department of Justice]] represents the target as an agent of a foreign power, member of a terrorist organization, weapons smuggling group, or drug cartel. The law requires notification to Congress if the target is an American citizen.

The purported evidence against Michael Cohen was gathered by the [[Obama administration]]'s illegal misuse of [[FISA]] Title I surveillance authority. FISA Title I surveillance of U.S. citizens is the most intrusive, exhaustive and far reaching type of search, seizure and surveillance authority, permitting the FBI to look at every aspect of a target's life.  All communication, travel and contact can be opened and reviewed.  All aspects of any of the target's engagements are subject to being secretly monitored. The authority is only granted by the FISA court when the [[Department of Justice]] represents the target as an agent of a foreign power, member of a terrorist organization, weapons smuggling group, or drug cartel. The law requires notification to Congress if the target is an American citizen.

In April 2017 a declassified FISA court ruling revealed that the Obama administration had abused FISA authority.<ref>On April 26, 2017 DNI [[Dan Coats]] declassified a FISA court ruling exposing a number of criminal activities that Barack Obama’s FBI and DOJ systematically practiced during Obama's time in office. The FISA court ruling shows widespread abuse of the FISA system. According to the court, Obama’s FBI and DOJ routinely performed searches on Americans that violated [[Fourth Amendment]] rights beginning in 2011.<br>[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/icotr/51117/2016_Cert_FISC_Memo_Opin_Order_Apr_2017.pdf United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Memorandum Opinion and Order], April 26, 2017.</ref> Former FBI Director [[James Comey]] failed to inform Congress of the FBI's illegal surveillance.<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/24/why-didnt-comey-disclose-trump-probe-congressional/ </ref>

In April 2017 a declassified FISA court ruling revealed that the Obama administration had abused FISA authority.<ref>On April 26, 2017 DNI [[Dan Coats]] declassified a FISA court ruling exposing a number of criminal activities that Barack Obama’s FBI and DOJ systematically practiced during Obama's time in office. The FISA court ruling shows widespread abuse of the FISA system. According to the court, Obama’s FBI and DOJ routinely performed searches on Americans that violated [[Fourth Amendment]] rights beginning in 2011.<br>[https://www.dni.gov/files/documents/icotr/51117/2016_Cert_FISC_Memo_Opin_Order_Apr_2017.pdf United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, Memorandum Opinion and Order], April 26, 2017, pp. 78-93.</ref> Former FBI Director [[James Comey]] failed to inform Congress of the FBI's illegal surveillance.<ref>https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2018/apr/24/why-didnt-comey-disclose-trump-probe-congressional/ </ref>

==Steele dossier==

==Steele dossier==