Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., criticized President Obama on Monday for asking Congress to end the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of phone records, when Obama has the power to end it on his own.
“Here’s the thing about the president — he’s disingenuous about this. The president started this program through executive order, he can end it any time,” the Kentucky Republican said on CBS Tuesday morning. “The Second Court of Appeals, the court right that is below the Supreme Court, said that it’s illegal. Why doesn’t he stop it? What’s he waiting for?”
The executive order allowing the bulk collection of phone data pre-dates Obama, although the Obama administration has sought permission from the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to collect this data. Paul essentially argued that if the Obama administration wanted to stop the NSA’s controversial practice, he could issue a new executive order ending it.
“He says, ‘Oh, Congress can stop it.’ He started it on his own, he should stop it,” Paul said. “And I’ve asked the president repeatedly, stop the program.”
Congress has until the end of May to act on expiring provisions of the Patriot Act. Senate Republicans blocked a bill Saturday that would have ended NSA’s ability to do bulk collection, but allowed for the search of phone records based on a case-by-case basis. That bill had the support of Obama, House Republicans and intelligence officials.
Paul, who spoke on the Senate floor for more than 10 hours last week to oppose an extension of the program, said he was looking to see how much of it might be dismantled when the Senate considers it again on Sunday.
“What I’m looking for right now is to see if the other side will negotiate. All I asked for was two amendments at a simple majority vote, so I’m not being unreasonable,” Paul said. “I would like to have a vote on ending bulk collection. I think we can win that vote.”
Who would support Paul in this quest? The Founding Fathers, he believes.
“Our Founding Fathers thought it was very important that warrants have an individual’s name on it, that you couldn’t have a warrant that said Verizon on it and collect all the records of all the people in America through one single warrant,” Paul said. “So I think I’m right in line with what the founders would’ve fought for. I’m proud of the fight.”
Paul, who launched his 2016 presidential campaign, pledged to “immediately” end what he calls “unconstitutional surveillance” should he be elected.
