The Elder Statement : NSA Scandal

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Monday, June 1, 2015

Can You Name Names?

Paul: Some In D.C. Hoping For Terror Attack To Blame Him

By Alex Byers, May 31, 2015, Politico

Sen. Rand Paul said Sunday evening that some people in Washington are “secretly” hoping for a terrorist attack to hit the U.S. to make him look bad.

In a speech on the Senate floor, Paul railed against those accusing him of jeopardizing national security by stalling efforts to renew surveillance programs.

“People here in town think I’m making a huge mistake,” Paul said. “Some of them, I think, secretly want there to be an attack on the United States so they can blame it on me.”

Paul committed Saturday to forcing expiring provisions of the PATRIOT Act to lapse, which will occur at midnight tonight — even as he admitted that surveillance reform legislation dubbed the USA Freedom Act is likely to pass at some point. Among the provisions that will expire is the authority the National Security Agency has used to justify the bulk phone records program exposed by Edward Snowden.

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"latest sign of discontent"

elderstatement.com June 01, 2015 Alex Byers , NSA Scandal 0 Comments

Senators Flash Anger At Paul And Vice Versa

By Alex Byers, May 31, 2015, Politico

Tempers are flaring in the Senate.

With lawmakers slated to take procedural votes later this evening on a bill to reform the PATRIOT Act, Sens. Dan Coats (R-Ind.) and John McCain (R-Ariz.) refused to yield the floor to fellow Republican Sen. Rand Paul, who has promised to force a sunset of key parts national security law. The spat prompted a terse back-and-forth during a rare Sunday session prompted by Paul’s refusal earlier this month to allow votes on the issue.

With dozens of Senate onlookers donning “Stand with Rand” T-Shirts, Paul tried to interject as Coats and McCain were speaking in defense of of the National Security Agency. But McCain and Coats wouldn’t yield the floor.

Paul “needs to learn the rules of the Senate,” McCain sniped at the Kentucky Republican.

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Pataki On The Attack

elderstatement.com June 01, 2015 Associated Press , George Pataki 0 Comments

Paul Takes Heat On Patriot Act, Isis Stances

Rand Paul (Credit: Jeff Malet, maletphoto.com)

By Associated Press, May 31, 2015

Republican presidential hopeful George Pataki says GOP rival Rand Paul is putting the nation at risk for political purposes with his legislative tactics stalling the extension of the Patriot Act.

Pataki was New York governor in 2001 when the 9/11 terrorists struck. He says Paul's maneuvers in the Senate can only suspend parts of the anti-terrorism act for several days, not block them permanently, so letting those provisions expire has no value even for people who oppose them. He says Paul is "putting Americans at risk for a political reason."

The National Security Agency stands to lose legal authority to collect and search domestic phone records for connections to international terrorists unless senators find a way Sunday to avoid a lapse. Paul and other civil liberties advocates argue surveillance programs authorized by the NSA have not produced significant results in protecting Americans from terrorism.

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But Will Be Up And Runing In Days

elderstatement.com June 01, 2015 Associated Press , Ken Dilanian 0 Comments

Surveillance Powers Lapse With No Deal In Senate

By Ken Dilanian, Jun. 1, 2015, Ap.org

WASHINGTON (AP) -- For the first time since Sept. 11, 2001, the Congress curtailed the National Security Agency's authority to track suspected terrorists as lawmakers struggled to restore approval for mass collection of phone records and other surveillance methods.

No solution was likely before Tuesday at the earliest, and the Republican lawmaker who triggered the gridlock took credit in a message to supporters that also sought donations to his presidential campaign.

"Yesterday, I forced the expiration of the NSA's illegal spying program. Contribute $5 now to show your support," tweeted Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky.

While Paul sought to capitalize on his position, House-passed legislation was stalled in the Senate, where Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and other leading Republicans sought changes.

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