Letter: Senators Warner and Allen and Representative Moran on Secret Courts

April 2, 2003

Letter to Senators Warner and Allen
and Representative Moran

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James Landrith
PO Box 8208
Alexandria, VA 22306-8208

April 2, 2003

The Honorable John William Warner
United States Senate
225 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4601

The Honorable George F. Allen
United States Senate
204 Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510-4604

The Honorable James P. Moran
U.S House of Representatives
2239 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-4608

Dear Senators Warner and Allen and Representative Moran:

As your constituent, I urge you to support and cosponsor the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Oversight Bill (S. 436).

This important bill would ensure our elected officials are able to provide appropriate oversight over the secret FISA court. This bill would not hinder law enforcement but instead would simply require the public accounting of basic information such as the number of Americans subjected to surveillance under FISA and the number of times that FISA information has been used for law enforcement purposes.

People from across the political spectrum agree that secret courts need oversight to prevent illegal surveillance and other invasions of our rights. FISA powers are broad, and the secrecy of the proceedings makes FISA powers susceptible to abuse. Without oversight there is no accountability and this secret court could rampantly issue improper and illegal warrants.

I have read that the government has not been forthcoming with even the most basic information about the operation of this secret court. Without this legislation, the government will continue to operate in secret, in contradiction to traditions of fairness and open government that have been the hallmark of our democracy.

Furthermore, this bill does not undercut the effective and efficient operation of the FISA court. Instead it requests basic information about the scope of the court’s activities, such as the number of American citizens under surveillance and the number of times that FISA information has been used for law enforcement purposes.

Once again, I urge you to ensure our rights are protected by supporting and cosponsoring the FISA Oversight Bill (S. 436)

I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this crucial matter.

Sincerely,

James Landrith