FBI Chief Wray: All tools needed to protect national security
FBI Director Christopher Wray addresses an ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security luncheon.
Lawyers play a critical role in helping the American public understand what’s at stake when it comes to national security threats, said FBI Director Christopher Wray at an April 9 luncheon sponsored by the ABA Standing Committee on Law and National Security.
“We need lawyers … to explain what’s law and what’s policy, what a warrant is and what it isn’t, and to help illuminate the consequences of purposefully choosing to limit the American intelligence community from accessing key and timely information about our foreign adversaries,” he said, referring to the current debate in Congress on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Set to expire April 19, Section 702 governs how federal agencies may collect and use data collected from overseas targets, including conversations with or about Americans.
“America’s adversaries aren’t pulling any punches — they’re coming at us with everything they’ve got. So, this is not the time for us to hang up our gloves or take away the tools that help us punch back,” Wray said, adding that China’s state-sponsored hacking program is bigger than that of all other major nations combined. “If each one of the FBI’s cyber agents and intelligence analysts focused exclusively on the China threat, China’s hackers would still outnumber FBI cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1.”
China is not the only adversary the United States is up against. “Russia and Iran are also determined to use every available tool at their disposal to take aim at things we all hold sacred — our freedoms, prosperity and democratic norms,” Wray said.
“We’re in crunch time when it comes to reauthorizing this vital authority. And as the threats to our homeland continue to evolve, the agility and effectiveness of 702 will be essential to the FBI’s ability — and really our mandate from the American people — to keep them safe for years to come.”
“We need lawyers … to explain what’s law and what’s policy, what a warrant is and what it isn’t, and to help illuminate the consequences of purposefully choosing to limit the American intelligence community from accessing key and timely information about our foreign adversaries,” he said, referring to the current debate in Congress on reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Set to expire April 19, Section 702 governs how federal agencies may collect and use data collected from overseas targets, including conversations with or about Americans.
“America’s adversaries aren’t pulling any punches — they’re coming at us with everything they’ve got. So, this is not the time for us to hang up our gloves or take away the tools that help us punch back,” Wray said, adding that China’s state-sponsored hacking program is bigger than that of all other major nations combined. “If each one of the FBI’s cyber agents and intelligence analysts focused exclusively on the China threat, China’s hackers would still outnumber FBI cyber personnel by at least 50 to 1.”
China is not the only adversary the United States is up against. “Russia and Iran are also determined to use every available tool at their disposal to take aim at things we all hold sacred — our freedoms, prosperity and democratic norms,” Wray said.
“We’re in crunch time when it comes to reauthorizing this vital authority. And as the threats to our homeland continue to evolve, the agility and effectiveness of 702 will be essential to the FBI’s ability — and really our mandate from the American people — to keep them safe for years to come.”
Rep. Armstrong, legal aid groups NLADA and NAIP honored
Senator Dick Durbin (D - IL) met with ABA President Mary Smith as part of ABA Day 2024 in Washington.
American Bar Association photos
The American Bar Association Governmental Affairs Office wrapped up its 2024 ABA Day on April 11, bringing together lawyers from all 50 states to engage with their elected officials and advocate on issues important to the legal profession. Almost 200 people attended events in Washington, D.C., with 39 states sending advocates in person and 11 other states having people meet in home districts or engage with their representatives online using the ABA Congressional Messaging Portal.
This year’s issues included the ABA’s support of full funding for the Legal Services Corporation, now in its 50th year. The LSC promotes equal access to justice by providing funding assistance to civil legal aid programs in every congressional district.
The ABA also advocated for increased FY2025 funding for federal public defenders, support for attorney-client confidentiality over prison email systems, reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and reforms to student lending.
As part of the event, the ABA presented its Congressional Justice Award to Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). Armstrong has worked across the aisle on criminal justice reform bills that are ABA priorities. He has supported legislation reducing mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, including a bill that would equalize penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses, an ABA position since the 1990s. A former public defender, Armstrong has also introduced legislation for strengthening public defense systems at the state and federal levels. “Criminal justice only works if everyone gets it,” Armstrong said in accepting the award.
The ABA also presented Grassroots Awards to the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) and the National Association of IOLTA Programs (NAIP).
NLADA, America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford it, was honored for providing advocacy, guidance and training for members of the equal justice community, especially those working in public defense and civil legal aid. April Frazier Camara, president and CEO of NLADA, in accepting the award said, “At NLADA, we believe everyone deserves a fair fight when they enter courtrooms across America.”
NAIP, established in 1986, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for funders of civil legal aid. It supports the development of Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) programs and works to increase access to justice for all. Christine Fecko, general counsel of NAIP, accepted the award.
American Bar Association photos
The American Bar Association Governmental Affairs Office wrapped up its 2024 ABA Day on April 11, bringing together lawyers from all 50 states to engage with their elected officials and advocate on issues important to the legal profession. Almost 200 people attended events in Washington, D.C., with 39 states sending advocates in person and 11 other states having people meet in home districts or engage with their representatives online using the ABA Congressional Messaging Portal.
This year’s issues included the ABA’s support of full funding for the Legal Services Corporation, now in its 50th year. The LSC promotes equal access to justice by providing funding assistance to civil legal aid programs in every congressional district.
The ABA also advocated for increased FY2025 funding for federal public defenders, support for attorney-client confidentiality over prison email systems, reauthorization of the Higher Education Act and reforms to student lending.
As part of the event, the ABA presented its Congressional Justice Award to Rep. Kelly Armstrong (R-ND). Armstrong has worked across the aisle on criminal justice reform bills that are ABA priorities. He has supported legislation reducing mandatory minimum sentences for drug offenses, including a bill that would equalize penalties for crack and powder cocaine offenses, an ABA position since the 1990s. A former public defender, Armstrong has also introduced legislation for strengthening public defense systems at the state and federal levels. “Criminal justice only works if everyone gets it,” Armstrong said in accepting the award.
The ABA also presented Grassroots Awards to the National Legal Aid and Defender Association (NLADA) and the National Association of IOLTA Programs (NAIP).
NLADA, America’s oldest and largest nonprofit association devoted to the delivery of legal services to those who cannot afford it, was honored for providing advocacy, guidance and training for members of the equal justice community, especially those working in public defense and civil legal aid. April Frazier Camara, president and CEO of NLADA, in accepting the award said, “At NLADA, we believe everyone deserves a fair fight when they enter courtrooms across America.”
NAIP, established in 1986, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization for funders of civil legal aid. It supports the development of Interest on Lawyers Trust Account (IOLTA) programs and works to increase access to justice for all. Christine Fecko, general counsel of NAIP, accepted the award.
