Russ Feingold: “I object to that characterization. I think this is clearly the kind of thing we should be worried about. I will tell you…”

“I object to that characterization. I think this is clearly the kind of thing we should be worried about. I will tell you what is a tired accusation: the notion that somehow our amendment would affect the ability of the Government to listen in on Osama bin Laden. That is a tired and false accusation. The Senator has said that if bin Laden or his No. 3 man-- whoever that is today, because we killed the last No. 3 man--calls somebody in the United States, we cannot listen in to that communication unless we have an independent means of verifying that it had some impact on threats to our security from a terrorist threat. That is what he claims, that we would not be able to listen in on that conversation. That is false. The Feingold-Webb-Tester amendment specifically does not require a FISA Court warrant to acquire and disseminate the communications of any foreigner overseas who is suspected of terrorism. Mr. President, there is no separate threat requirement.”