Williams Explains Intelligence Legislation to Sestak

Press Release

Craig Williams, the Republican candidate for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania's Seventh District, said today that the House bill on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) Amendments of 2008 was a stunning example of irresponsible and ineffective government by Joe Sestak and the Democrats in the House of Representatives.

"Joe Sestak is blatantly playing partisan politics, putting special interests ahead of national security," said Craig Williams, a former federal prosecutor, Marine combat veteran, and former active duty Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Joe is now on another two-week vacation, while our intelligence-gathering capabilities against foreign terrorists are compromised."

"Let me be clear, so that Congressman Sestak will finally understand this important legislation," said Williams. "These FISA Amendments, which passed by an overwhelming, bi-partisan majority in the Senate, are designed to allow the United States intelligence community to wiretap and intercept communications between foreign terrorists operating overseas, such as a terrorist operating in Pakistan with another terrorist operating in Afghanistan. Because of the way modern communication signals work, that signal may come through an American communication node. The intelligence community had - and still needs - the ability to hear that international call instantly."

In contrast to the House vote, the United States Senate passed bi-partisan legislation, with a 68-29 majority, that would have updated and extended FISA. FISA legislation was originally passed in the 1970's to permit United State intelligence services to wiretap foreign nationals operating overseas. Advances in technology mean that many communications are now routed through the United States, even if neither of the callers or individuals communicating are physically within the United States. To ensure that our intelligence agencies were not hamstrung by this technicality, Congress last year approved an expansion of FISA that allowed for the continued wiretapping -- without court approval -- of foreign terrorists operating overseas, outside of U.S. borders.

"We are not talking about wiretapping American citizens and the bipartisan bill approved by the Senate contains safeguards to ensure that will not happen," said Williams. "Joe tries to assure us that we do not need the legislation because the intelligence community can always stand up a wiretap and go to a FISA court for a warrant within two days. The very fact that Joe says our intelligence community needs a warrant to listen to a conversation between two foreigners, at least one of whom is a suspected terrorist, tells me that he does not understand the issue."

"When Congressman Sestak tells us that we should trust him -- because he was a three-star Admiral working in the Pentagon -- that our troops are not endangered by being denied instant access to overseas communications by terrorists, I honestly wonder if he is paying attention to the conversation at all. Having been in battle, I can tell you that instantaneous information is critical. And the lack of information costs lives," said Williams.

In support of his position that the modernization of FISA should fail (although he has voted for it in the past), Sestak claims that he is personally charged with the responsibility of protecting civil liberties and the Constitution of the United States. "The intelligence community needs to listen to terrorist groups communicating with one another completely outside of the United States," said Williams. "No American phone will be tapped without a warrant. Congressman Sestak wants to guard the civil liberties of terrorists and give them constitutional protection. That is not consistent with my thinking on national security."

As a former federal prosecutor, Williams is especially troubled by Democrats' insistence that telephone companies should be financially liable for government wiretaps.

"Joe Sestak is not terribly concerned about the intelligence conversation," said Williams. "His main concern is appeasing Democratic leadership, and their interest is protecting class-action lawsuits against our telephone companies. These companies are facing multi-billion dollar lawsuits, and those litigation costs will be passed on to consumers."

"The telephone companies relied on the best advice available from the government about the legality of these wiretaps," said Williams. "Senator Specter offered a great compromise: if the special interests want their day in federal court, then allow the United States Government to substitute as a party in these lawsuits. Everyone can then have their day in court. Democrats and their lobbyists will never agree, however, because there is no money in simply having a battle of ideas in court - they want to sue deep pockets, which in this case belong to the telephone companies."

"This is the second time in two months that Joe has left the job for a two-week vacation without taking care of the nation's business - especially on something as important as our national security," said Williams. "I am sure we will see him on TV often with the Clintons over the next two weeks, as they all campaign across Pennsylvania. I wish he would pay attention to the job. These are serious issues, and I do not sense that he treats them seriously."

Craig Williams is the endorsed Republican candidate for the office of U.S. Representative for the 7th Congressional District of Pennsylvania, comprising of most of Delaware County and parts of Montgomery and Chester Counties. Williams is a former federal prosecutor, Marine combat veteran, and former active duty Deputy Legal Counsel to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He lives in Concord Township, Delaware County, with his wife Jennifer, daughter and two step-children. The 7th District is his home - where he lives, where his kids go to school, where he pays taxes, where he attends church, and where he intends to spend the rest of his life.

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