Kash Patel, the former Chief of Staff at the Defense Department, recently appeared on FOX News alongside Attorney Alan Dershowitz.
The discussion centered on Jack Smith, a political operative known for his efforts to undermine former President Donald Trump.
During the conversation, Patel highlighted a critical point to the FOX News viewership: the recent reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) program by Republicans. This program, which will now extend through the 2024 election, was notoriously used by the FBI to surveil President Trump in 2016 and beyond.
The FBI's actions during this period have been widely criticized. It is now widely accepted that the Bureau knowingly and deliberately misled the FISA Court to gain permission to spy on the Trump Campaign in 2016. This surveillance extended into his administration and even included family members.
Patel expressed his concerns about the future implications of these actions. "The biggest concern I have going forward is the politicization and weaponization and creation of a two-tier system of justice as a result," Patel stated. He recalled his time working with Devin Nunes on the Russia gate investigation, during which they exposed the FISA corruption and recommended numerous reforms to prevent future misuse. However, Congress chose to reauthorize the 702 FISA, which Patel explained is a term used for foreign intelligence surveillance.
Patel, a former national security prosecutor and intelligence operative, explained that the FISA court had recently publicized an opinion stating that the FBI had illegally used the FISA program 275,000 times domestically against Americans. This included 16 different instances against those affiliated with the events of January 6, 19,000 times against donors to a congressional campaign, and 24,000 separate times against Americans and groups associated with January 6.
Patel criticized the misuse of the FISA process, stating, "That FISA process has been turned on its head, redirected inwards." He also pointed out that the FISA court had twice rescinded Rod Rosenstein's illegal surveillance of Donald Trump based on their investigation. Patel argued that the FBI and Department of Justice have weaponized justice, and that the Republican leadership in Congress allowed the FISA program to be reauthorized, essentially through the next election cycle.
Patel also criticized FBI Director Chris Ray, accusing him of weakening American national security and redirecting one of the most sensitive intelligence apparatuses against elections and those exercising their free speech rights within America.
Patel concluded by expressing his disappointment with the Republican majority, accusing them of rewarding the FBI for breaking the law and allowing election interference to continue through 2024, primarily against Donald Trump.
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