by

January 12, 2018

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Calif) speaks during a news conference at the U.S. Capitol on November 9, 2017. Issa announced this week that he would not seek re-election. (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Just Security‘s editorial board members had a number of things to say on Twitter about national security this week, tapping out threads on everything from the Mueller investigation to legislation that may enable warrantless surveillance on Americans, to hyper-partisanship seeping into national security matters.  To make things easier for you, we’ve gathered a collection of the top tweet of select threads by our authors below. Click on the tweet to access the entire thread.

 

Mueller Investigation Interviewing Trump

On Jan. 8, former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti analyzed news reports that Special Counsel Robert Mueller had spoken to President Donald Trump’s legal team about interviewing him in the Russia investigation. Mariotti noted that Trump’s legal team will try to limit any such interview as to topic or setting, though he believes the Mueller investigation would be unlikely to accept a written question and answer exchange.

 

Rep. Darrell Issa’s Retirement

Upon hearing the Jan. 8 news that Republican Rep. Darrell Issa (Calif.) will be retiring, Andy Wright recounted his personal experiences as a congressional staffer enduring the incredibly unproductive hyperpartisanship that Issa introduced to the House Oversight Committee. Make sure you read through to the parts about Issa measuring the drapes in Wright’s offices:

 

FISA Section 702 Reform, Related Litigation, and the Fourth Amendment

Just Security‘s editorial board members had plenty to say about surveillance this week. Former FBI special agent Asha Rangappa and surveillance reform expert Jennifer Granick both analyzed the House’s move to reauthorize the FISA Amendment Act of 2008, including the Section 702. Meanwhile, Steve Vladeck commented on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court’s certification of a standing question to the FISA Court of Review. And Julian Sanchez discussed the Fourth Amendment and the role class plays when it comes to government surveillance.

 

Congressional Republicans’ Calls to Investigate Fusion GPS

Finally, Asha Rangappa and Julian Sanchez commented on Fusion GPS and the Steele Dossier and their role, or lack thereof, in the FBI’s investigation into Russian election meddling in light of Republican efforts to discredit Fusion GPS, the dossier, and the FBI’s investigation.