Russ Feingold: “this amendment, approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, assures the new authorities contained in this bill will not…”

“this amendment, approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee, assures the new authorities contained in this bill will not be used to engage in what is known as ``reverse targeting of Americans.'' FISA requires the Government to get a court order when it is listening in on Americans on American soil. Reverse targeting refers to the possibility that the Government will try to get around this requirement by using these new authorities to wiretap someone overseas when what the Government really wants to do is listen to the American with whom that foreign person is communicating. The Director of National Intelligence has testified that reverse targeting is a violation of the fourth amendment. This amendment merely codifies that constitutional principle. Specifically, the amendment says the Government needs an individualized court order when a significant purpose of the surveillance is to acquire communications of a person inside the United States.”