OPPOSE CLAYTON NOMINATION AND WARRANTLESS AI MASS SURVEILLANCE
QUICK READ: Last Friday, FISA Section 702 expired over leadership’s refusal to add significant protections against unfettered spying on Americans and concerns the newly appointed Bill Pulte would weaponize available information against Trump’s enemies as he’d done in his previous position. On Thursday, Trump nominated Jay Clayton, a less flamboyant but equally dangerous hatchet man, trying to jump start both Clayton’s quick confirmation and Section 702’s renewal. Our MoCs cannot fall for this trap. They must stand strong, opposing both the unqualified Clayton and Section 702’s reauthorization without significant reforms.
CONTENTS:
BACKGROUND
On June 12, FISA Section 702, that authorized decades of unfettered spying on US citizens, expired over leadership’s refusal to include significant reforms protecting our civil liberties and concerns about newly appointed acting Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Bill Pulte, an unapologetic attack dog who gleefully pursued Trump’s enemies.
The day before, Trump swapped him for a less flamboyant, but equally dangerous, hatchet man, by nominating Jay Clayton, another Trump loyalist with no statutorily required national security experience or interest in protecting our civil liberties.
Clayton’s experience and positions, however, make him just as unqualified:
Never confirmed as New York Southern District US Attorney
Routinely provided pro-Trump commentary on CNBC’s “Squawk Box,” denouncing Trump’s criminal prosecutions and defending his $1.776 billion slush fund
Nominated for DNI two days after casting doubt on California’s elections on CNBC
Issued defective Maduro indictment and his Epstein file redactions disastrous
Federal ethics and conflict-of-interest rules violated by his investments in oil companies operating in Venezuela and banks being investigated for Epstein ties
Wall Street ties creating additional conflicts of interest if confirmed, given overseen agencies’ significant financial and cybersecurity portfolios
Trump and GOP leadership hope to rush through Clayton’s confirmation this week and then immediately push through Section 702’s reauthorization without amendments.
Senators cannot let this happen, since Clayton’s serious deficiencies, making him as bad as Polte, must be flushed out thoroughly. Nor should either chamber reauthorize Section 702 as written because it
Allows warrantless backdoor surveillance of Americans
Doesn’t prevent the administration’s targeting of critics, activists, religious minorities, or communities of color
Actively chills freedom of speech and association
Instead, they must stand strong, opposing both the unqualified Clayton and Section 702’s reauthorization without significant reforms.
ACTION One: Call the Senate.
Script for Oregon Senators
SEN. MERKLEY: Portland office: 503-326-3386 | D.C. office: 202-224-3753
My name is [--] and I'm a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for standing strong and refusing to reauthorize FISA Section 702 last week. Trump’s DNI nomination of Jay Clayton changes nothing; he just swapped one unqualified loyal hatchet man for another. I implore you to maintain this position until the Senate amends Section 702 to include serious privacy guardrails by closing the backdoor search and data broker loopholes, after which you should defeat his nomination. Your constituents and America’s privacy advocates are depending on it.
SEN. WYDEN:
Portland office: 503-326-7525 | D.C. office: 202-224-5244
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
Thank you for standing strong and refusing to reauthorize FISA Section 702 last week. Trump’s DNI nomination of Jay Clayton changes nothing; he just swapped one unqualified loyal hatchet man for another. I implore you to maintain this position until the Senate amends Section 702 to include serious privacy guardrails by closing the backdoor search and data broker loopholes, after which you should defeat his nomination. Your constituents and America’s privacy advocates are depending on it.
Script for Republican Senators
D.C switchboard: 202-224-3121
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], [state], [zip code].
Your constituents want Section 702 to be reformed and Trump prevented from meddling in our electronic communications. Please oppose Trump’s hatchet man, Jay Clayton, and work to amend Section 702 so it protects your constituents’ civil liberties and privacy rights.
ACTION TWO: Call the House.
Script for Suzanne Bonamici (OR-01)
Oregon office: 503-469-6010 | DC office: 202-225-0855
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It doesn’t matter whether Bill Pulte or Jay Clayton is the DNI, since Trump’s just swapping one loyal hatchet man for another, neither of whom has the statutorily required national security experience or the interest in protecting our civil liberties. The Trump administration’s willingness to abuse US intelligence information, use it against Trump’s enemies, and unlawfully involve itself in domestic issues, in the age of mass AI, makes it imperative for you to continue opposing Section 702’s reauthorization until it’s amended to close the backdoor search and data broker loopholes.
Script for Cliff Bentz (OR-02)
Medford office: 541-776-4646 | DC office: 202-225-6730
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
All Members of Congress swore to uphold the Constitution when they were sworn in. Your constituents want Section 702 to be reformed and Trump prevented from meddling in our electronic communications. Please work to amend Section 702 so it protects your constituents’ civil liberties and privacy rights. Your constituents are opposed to the government’s unfettered spying on US citizens, and I’ll be watching your vote closely.
Script for Maxine Dexter (OR-03)
Oregon office: 503-231-2300 | DC office: 202-225-4811
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It doesn’t matter whether Bill Pulte or Jay Clayton is the DNI, since Trump’s just swapping one loyal hatchet man for another, neither of whom has the statutorily required national security experience or the interest in protecting our civil liberties. The Trump administration’s willingness to abuse US intelligence information, use it against Trump’s enemies, and unlawfully involve itself in domestic issues, in the age of mass AI, makes it imperative for you to continue opposing Section 702’s reauthorization until it’s amended to close the backdoor search and data broker loopholes.
Script for Val Hoyle (OR-04)
Eugene office: 541-465-6732 | DC office: 202-225-6416
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It doesn’t matter whether Bill Pulte or Jay Clayton is the DNI, since Trump’s just swapping one loyal hatchet man for another, neither of whom has the statutorily required national security experience or the interest in protecting our civil liberties. The Trump administration’s willingness to abuse US intelligence information, use it against Trump’s enemies, and unlawfully involve itself in domestic issues, in the age of mass AI, makes it imperative for you to continue opposing Section 702’s reauthorization until it’s amended to close the backdoor search and data broker loopholes.
Script for Janelle Bynum (OR-05)
Oregon City office: 503-387-8651 |DC office: 202-225-5711
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It doesn’t matter whether Bill Pulte or Jay Clayton is the DNI, since Trump’s just swapping one loyal hatchet man for another, neither of whom has the statutorily required national security experience or the interest in protecting our civil liberties. The Trump administration’s willingness to abuse US intelligence information, use it against Trump’s enemies, and unlawfully involve itself in domestic issues, in the age of mass AI, makes it imperative for you to continue opposing Section 702’s reauthorization until it’s amended to close the backdoor search and data broker loopholes.
Script for Andrea Salinas (OR-06)
Salem office: 503-385-0906 | DC office: 202-225-5643
My name is [–] and I’m a constituent from [city], Oregon [zip code].
It doesn’t matter whether Bill Pulte or Jay Clayton is the DNI, since Trump’s just swapping one loyal hatchet man for another, neither of whom has the statutorily required national security experience or the interest in protecting our civil liberties. The Trump administration’s willingness to abuse US intelligence information, use it against Trump’s enemies, and unlawfully involve itself in domestic issues, in the age of mass AI, makes it imperative for you to continue opposing Section 702’s reauthorization until it’s amended to close the backdoor search and data broker loopholes.
