The Sharyl Attkisson Podcast 267. Oops! DOJ spied on its new FBI Director Kash Patel—and other Congressional staffers at the time
Dec 11, 2024
Jason Foster, an attorney and the founder of Empower Oversight, discusses a shocking incident where the DOJ spied on congressional staffers, including Kash Patel, Donald Trump's FBI Director. He reveals the chilling challenges faced by whistleblowers and the dangerous implications of unauthorized surveillance on privacy and transparency. The conversation highlights the erosion of constitutional protections, concerns about government transparency, and the adversarial relationship between Congress and federal agencies, shedding light on the need for accountability.
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Foster's Career
- Jason Foster worked on Capitol Hill for 22 years, 14 of those for Chuck Grassley.
- He became a chief oversight and investigations counsel for the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Secret Surveillance
- During the Trump-Russia investigation, Foster's communications were secretly collected for six months.
- This happened while he was investigating DOJ FISA abuses.
Violation of Separation of Powers
- Government surveillance of congressional oversight staff is a separation of powers violation.
- It chills whistleblower communications, hindering Congress's oversight function.
