Allegations of DOJ Surveillance on Congress Staff Spark Controversy

Allegations of DOJ Surveillance on Congress Staff Spark Controversy

A lawsuit has shed light on shocking allegations: the DOJ is accused of secretly spying on congressional staff investigating agency misconduct, potentially compromising constitutional safeguards.

At a Glance

  • A whistleblower group, Empower Oversight Whistleblowers and Research, is suing the DOJ over alleged secret surveillance of congressional staff involved in the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation.
  • The lawsuit claims the DOJ has ignored multiple Freedom of Information Act requests for records related to the surveillance.
  • The surveillance allegedly began in 2016 and included staff members from both political parties.
  • Tech companies like Google, Apple, and Verizon were reportedly subpoenaed for communications records but were bound by non-disclosure orders.
  • Congressional demands for accountability have escalated, with prominent senators seeking answers.

Lawsuit Details Against the DOJ

Empower Oversight Whistleblowers and Research has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), accusing it of conducting secret surveillance on congressional staff members involved in investigating the agency itself for potential misconduct. The surveillance reportedly targeted staff from both political parties who were part of oversight activities following the investigation into the FBI’s role in the Trump-Russia probe, commonly referred to as Crossfire Hurricane.

The civil suit, filed after the DOJ allegedly stonewalled several records requests, aims to compel the release of documents that would elucidate the extent and nature of the surveillance. Empower Oversight claims that the DOJ ignored five Freedom of Information Act requests placed between October 2023 and June 2024.

Implications and Investigations

The allegations assert that the DOJ began its secret monitoring in 2016, a time frame that aligns with the height of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation. According to Jason Foster, Empower’s founder, the DOJ specifically surveilled him during his tenure with Senator Chuck Grassley.

A whistleblower group is suing the Department of Justice over its efforts to ‘secretly surveil’ congressional staff conducting oversight on the FBI’s Trump-Russia investigation.”

In another significant revelation, third-party technology companies, including Google, Apple, and Verizon, alerted congressional staffers that their communications records had been subpoenaed by the DOJ. These notices came with strict non-disclosure orders, ensuring the surveillance remained under wraps for years.

Political Response and Future Transparency

Senators Chuck Grassley, Ted Cruz, and Mike Lee have openly demanded clarification from Attorney General Merrick Garland about these grave allegations. Concerns are rising over potential abuses of power that could undermine the constitutional balance designed to ensure fair and independent government oversight.

“These records will show the lengths to which DOJ went starting in 2016 to secretly surveil various congressional staff members (of both political parties) who were actively engaged in oversight of DOJ pursuant to their constitutional authorities,” states the complaint submitted to the DC federal district court.

This case has drawn comparisons with past governmental overreach. For example, an internal C.I.A. investigation revealed that officers accessed computers used by the Senate Intelligence Committee to review the C.I.A.’s detention and interrogation program. This incident led to widespread criticism and demands for accountability, emphasizing the necessity of stringent checks and balances.

“This is a serious situation and there are serious violations,” said Mr. Chambliss, generally a staunch ally of the intelligence community. He called for the C.I.A. employees to be “dealt with very harshly.”

The outcome of this lawsuit could be pivotal in shaping future protocols and ensuring that federal agencies remain transparent and accountable. All eyes will be on the DOJ as this lawsuit progresses, watching for reforms that might emerge from these significant and highly troubling allegations.

Sources

  1. DOJ sued for stonewalling on ‘secret’ surveillance records of congressional staff during Russiagate
  1. U.S. Department of Justice
  1. Inquiry by C.I.A. Affirms It Spied on Senate Panel
  1. FBI WHISTLEBLOWER TESTIMONY HIGHLIGHTS GOVERNMENT ABUSE, MISALLOCATION OF RESOURCES, AND RETALIATION
  1. Report to Congress on Implementation
  2. of Section 1001 of the USA PATRIOT Act
  1. Chairman Jordan Launches Inquiry into the DOJ’s Attempts to Spy on Congress
  1. Probe widens into federal watchdog over missing Jan. 6 Secret Service texts
  1. What to know about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s long-running scandals and legal battles