Former Attorney General Bill Barr spoke out on Wednesday against former President Donald Trump’s call for Congress to kill the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, saying there would be “blood on people’s hands” if it isn’t extended.
Barr served in Trump’s Cabinet in 2019 and 2020, and he wasn’t shy when speaking about the necessity to extend the intelligence community’s surveillance authority granted through FISA, warning that potential terrorist attacks could spring up if their surveillance powers aren’t extended.
While speaking with The Hill, Barr accused Trump of “posturing” to try to gain footing with his base and potential voters.
“I think it’s crazy and reckless to not move forward with FISA. It’s our principal tool protecting us from terrorist attacks. We’re living through a time where those threats have never been higher, so it’s blinding us, it’s blinding our allies,” Barr told The Hill in an interview.
The comments from Barr come after Trump took to Truth Social to share his thoughts right before House Republicans met to discuss the legislation and what they would do.
“KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!!” Trump posted on Truth Social.
Barr says Trump’s feelings toward FISA have nothing to do with knowledge of what would happen if Congress doesn’t extend it.
“I think President Trump’s opposition seems to have stemmed from personal pique rather than any logic and reason. The provision that he objects to has nothing to do with the provision that’s on the floor,” he said, referring to the legislation that would reauthorize Section 702 of FISA, which grants the intelligence community its surveillance authority.
The legislation was stalled in the House on Wednesday, with 19 Republicans voting against it.
Barr also addressed Trump’s claim that he was spied on in 2016, saying that Section 702 had nothing to do with it.
“The part of FISA that was abused during Russia-gate had to do with getting wiretaps for American citizens, and that’s not what’s being considered. This is our ability to exploit foreign communications, and there are no Fourth Amendment issues with respect to the collection of this information,” Barr said.
Barr told The Hill that this could have deadly consequences for the United States.
“I believe this will result in attacks on the United States we’re not able to intercept,” he warned, adding, “I hope for Republicans’ sake that there are no attacks because if there are, I think there will be blood on people’s hands for doing this. It’s reckless.”