The Senate Intelligence Committee’s top Democrat is blasting Apple for putting itself “above the law” by appealing the federal government’s demand that it assist in breaking into one of its devices, and is calling on the company to render that assistance immediately.
“The U.S. attorney should be able to fully investigate the San Bernardino, Calif., terrorist attack that killed 14 Californians, and that includes access to the terrorist’s phone,” Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said in a statement provided to the Washington Examiner.
“I understand there are privacy concerns, but in this case the phone is owned by the county — which has consented to a search — and there is a valid search warrant. It’s not unreasonable for Apple to provide technical assistance when ordered by the court,” Feinstein added.
In comments to the McClatchy News Service earlier this week, Feinstein also said she “was reeling back in surprise” because the company had “set itself above the law,” emphasizing that it was a “California-based company.”
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Last week, the company was ordered by a federal judge to assist the FBI in accessing the contents of an iPhone used by terrorists in the December attack in San Bernardino. It has until Feb. 26 to appeal that order, which the company has said it will do.
