Andrew McCabe, the former FBI Deputy Director, admitted on Thursday that the bureau made “many mistakes” in its handling of Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) applications related to Carter Page, an aide to former President Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign.
During a CNN interview, McCabe, who now serves as a CNN law enforcement analyst, defended FISA’s Section 702 while responding to Trump’s criticism of the program. Trump had called for the termination of FISA, alleging that it was used to spy on his campaign.
McCabe acknowledged the errors in the FISA application targeting Carter Page, stating that there were “many mistakes” in the process. He emphasized the distinction between Section 702 and the specific FISA application related to Page, which faced criticism for its reliance on an unverified dossier.
https://twitter.com/tomselliott/status/1778445079566254433?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
In 2018, McCabe was fired from the FBI by the Trump Department of Justice, just hours before his retirement, over allegations of “lack of candor” regarding disclosures to the media. McCabe filed a lawsuit contesting his firing, claiming it was politically motivated, and ultimately reached a settlement in 2021 that restored his pension and benefits.
The debate over FISA’s reauthorization has intensified in Congress, with some lawmakers pushing for reforms to protect the privacy of U.S. citizens. FBI Director Christopher Wray has defended Section 702 authorities as “critical” for national security, while House Speaker Mike Johnson argued that the proposed reforms would address past abuses.
Despite opposition from a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the House blocked consideration of a reauthorization bill for Section 702 just days before its expiration.
via joemiller