1. United States
2. Ohio
3. Letter

I am writing to demand that any reauthorization of FISA Section 702 include a mandatory warrant requirement for searches of Americans’ private communications. Section 702 was designed as a tool to monitor foreign threats, but it has been systematically used to bypass the Fourth Amendment. Currently, federal agencies conduct backdoor searches of Americans’ data without judicial oversight. This practice has reportedly swept up the private communications of journalists, protesters, and political donors. This is an unacceptable overreach of government power that bypasses the constitutional protections every American is afforded. I recognize the need for speed in national security. However, the law already provides a solution: Exigent Circumstances. In a true ticking time bomb scenario where there is an immediate threat to life or safety, law enforcement can and should act instantly. For all other routine queries of American citizens, the standard must remain firm: Get a warrant. Privacy and security are not mutually exclusive. We can protect our country without sacrificing the fundamental right to be free from warrantless government surveillance. I urge you to stand up for the Bill of Rights and vote against any clean extension that does not include these critical privacy protections. The April 20th deadline is fast approaching, and I will be watching your vote closely.