Russ Feingold: “Briefly, Mr. President, it is important to put in the Record that the Judiciary Committee, after carefully considering…”

“Briefly, Mr. President, it is important to put in the Record that the Judiciary Committee, after carefully considering this not just in the context of intelligence--and I do serve on the Intelligence Committee as well--but in the context of the relationship between intelligence and civil liberties, came to the opposite conclusion on both reverse targeting and bulk collection and voted by a majority to adopt the very sort of amendments I am proposing. With regard to the vice chairman's assertion that I had not put forward any concerns about the impact of these authorities on the civil liberties of Americans, I, in fact, sent a classified letter to the DNI in December expressing serious concerns about the implementation of the Protect America Act and its effect on the rights of Americans. I can't discuss classified specifics here. But the fact is, these aren't merely theoretical concerns. One final point: The thrust of our concern about reverse targeting and bulk collection doesn't have to do necessarily with what has already occurred but what could occur, what abuses could occur if we do not clarify in the law that they should not be done. This is especially important in light of the fact that, as I have indicated, the Director of National Intelligence has said it would be desirable to do this bulk collection. If the DNI says that, wouldn't that be a reason to be a little concerned and to make sure it is clearly prohibited? I reserve the remainder of my time.…”