Bill Barr rages over Trump's call to 'kill FISA'

Former Attorney General Bill Barr on Wednesday expressed his displeasure toward former President Donald Trump over his call to "kill FISA" ahead of a vote to extend key surveillance powers authorized in Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

The House on Wednesday failed to approve an extension to the Section 702 warrantless surveillance powers, due largely to pushback from conservatives over abuse. Prior to the vote, Trump urged lawmakers to simply "kill FISA" contending that it had been abused to improperly surveil his campaign. Section 702 is set to expire on April 19.

Barr, for his part, told The Hill that "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."

"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 went on.

"KILL FISA, IT WAS ILLEGALLY USED AGAINST ME, AND MANY OTHERS. THEY SPIED ON MY CAMPAIGN!!! DJT" Trump posted on Truth Social on Wednesday morning.

Prior to the vote, House Speaker Mike Johnson agreed with Trump that FISA had been abused in his case, but contended that "[t]hese reforms would actually kill the abuses that allowed President Trump's campaign to be spied on."

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter.