FRESNO (KMJ) — Valley congressman and Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes says America now has a hole in our national security – after provisions of the Patriot Act expired late Sunday night.
It means the Federal Government has found itself with less tools to investigate suspected terrorists after the senate couldn’t come to an agreement on the Patriot Act before the midnight deadline.
“Three provisions in the Patriot Act. It’s the business records, roving wire taps, and the meta-data program. All three of those programs are critically important. All three of those programs are currently shut down,” Rep. Nunes told KMJ News Reporter Dominic McAndrew.
Congressman Devin Nunes says all Americans worried about the safety of the country should be concerned about this.
He says suggestions that the act takes away our freedoms have been made up by other politicians.
“There was heavy oversight from all three branches of government. Which is important because we always have to make sure the programs are operating like they’re supposed to operate. But at the end of the day we put these programs in place to help us track down terrorists or sleeper cells within the United States” Rep. Nunes said.
One of those speaking out most vocally against the patriot act was Kentucky Senator Rand Paul. He says the act’s expiration is a victory, and that there’s nothing that prevents the intelligence community from continuing to safeguard the nation.
But the current situation may only be short lived: Congress is expected to work through the issues and approve the act in the next few days.
KMJ’s Dominic McAndrew spoke to Congressman Nunes early Monday morning – the complete interview is below.
