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Congress Poised to Tighten Oversight of Federal Surveillance

Associated Press

   WASHINGTON - Congress is taking a first step toward addressing errors
   made by the FBI during its investigation of the Trump campaign and
   Russia, setting a House vote Wednesday on legislation that would impose
   new restrictions on the federal government's surveillance tools.

   The measure is a compromise that reflects angst in both parties about
   the way the surveillance powers have been used but also a reluctance to
   strip those powers entirely from the government's arsenal. The bill
   would renew several provisions the FBI sees as vital to fighting
   terrorism even as it aims to ensure stricter oversight of how the
   bureau conducts surveillance.

   It remained unclear whether the Senate, after House action, would go
   along and send the bill to President Donald Trump, who has long been
   critical of intelligence agencies. House Democrats posted the text of a
   bill online before the floor vote Wednesday. Lawmakers leave town at
   week's end and the existing powers expire Sunday.

   The bill aims at some of the missteps the Justice Department has
   acknowledged making during the Russia investigation. Applications under
   the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act to eavesdrop on a former
   Trump campaign aide were riddled with omissions and missteps, according
   to an inspector general report.

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