Lawmakers Invoke Obscure Statute to Force Probe of Trump-Era Surveillance Tactics

Jayapal and Wyden Demand Probe of 'Unlimited Surveillance' and Subpoena Abuses by Trump Agencies

Federal agencies under the Trump administration have been accused of "institutionalized" abuses of authority in surveilling Americans. Rep. Pramila Jayapal and Sen. Ron Wyden call for transparency and accountability in the use of subpoena power.

Dems Call For Probe Into Spying On Reporters, Unions

The Guardian reports: Two congressional Democrats asked a government watchdog on Tuesday to investigate the Trump administration’s use of an obscure law to secretly collect records on journalists, non-profits and unions without judicial oversight. The request from the Oregon senator Ron Wyden and the representative Pramila Jayapal of Washington seen by the Guardian comes amid … The post Dems Call For Probe Into Spying On Reporters, Unions appear…

Lawmakers Invoke Obscure Statute to Force Probe of Trump-Era Surveillance Tactics

Democratic lawmakers Ron Wyden and Pramila Jayapal asked the GAO to audit the Trump administration's use of little-known customs summonses to secretly obtain phone records, financial data and online information on journalists, unions and critics without court approval. The request highlights privacy risks and extra-legal nondisclosure pressures on companies. It builds on earlier inspector general findings of misuse.