Sen. Rand Paul is fighting to end the NSA’s surveillance programs which he believe violate the Fourth Amendment.
“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,” he said. “So I think I’m right in line with what the founders would have fought for and I’m proud of the fight.”
Paul appeared Tuesday on CBS This Morning to respond to criticism that his filibuster was financially driven.
“Most people who know me and have watched my career would say that if anything I’m very sincere about this issue,” he said.
“I think that it’s very important not to let the government do general warrants. They need to be specific, they need to have suspicion, and they need to have an individual’s name on it,” Paul continued.
“…We obey the Constitution because it protects the rights of all individuals and it also keeps bias out of there.”
Paul remains in opposition to the Freedom Act, believing that it does not require proper grounds on the government’s part to access phone records.
“What I’m looking for right now is to see if the other side will negotiate. All I asked for was two amendments and a simple majority vote,” he said.
“I would like to have a vote on ending the bulk collection. I think we can win that vote.”
While personally working with Congress, he portioned responsibility to President Obama as well.
“The president started this program through executive order, he could end it any time. The Second Court of Appeals, the court that is right below the Supreme Court, has said that it’s illegal. Why doesn’t he stop it? What’s he waiting for?” Paul said.
