FBI's Misuse of Surveillance Powers on Jan. 6 Rioters and BLM Protesters

The FBI improperly searched an intelligence database for information on suspects in the January 6 Capitol riot and people arrested at 2020 protests after the police killing of George Floyd, according to a court opinion. The FBI searches were not “reasonably likely” to retrieve foreign intelligence information or evidence of a crime, Justice Department officials who reviewed the searches concluded. The FBI was using authorities granted by a 2008 intelligence law that allows the bureau to search a vast database that gathers phone calls and text messages of foreign targets overseas from US telecommunications providers. The program, known as Section 702, will expire at the end of this year unless Congress renews it.