Lawmakers press Lynch for briefing on Yahoo secret email scanning reports

A bipartisan group of lawmakers is calling for a briefing by Attorney General Loretta Lynch on reports that Yahoo searched all of its users emails at the behest of the U.S. government.

 

Reps. Justin AmashJustin AmashOvernight Defense: Foreign policy takes center stage at Democratic debate | House delivers impeachment articles to Senate | Dems vow to force new vote on Trump's border wall House votes to send impeachment articles to Senate Amash: Trump claim about US embassy threats 'seems to be totally made up' MORE (R-Mich.) and Ted Lieu (D-Calif.) on Friday penned a letter to Lynch and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, calling for clarity after reports that Yahoo complied with a U.S. intelligence request to scan all of its users’ emails in search of specific information.

 

“As legislators, it is our responsibility to have accurate information about the intelligence activities conducted by the federal government,” they wrote. 

 

“Accordingly, we request information and a briefing as soon as possible for all members of Congress to resolve the issues raised by these reports.”

 

The letter was co-signed by a bipartisan coalition of 48 representatives including Reps. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio), Trey GowdyHarold (Trey) Watson GowdyGreen says House shouldn't hold impeachment articles indefinitely Trump golfs with Graham ahead of impeachment trial Trey Gowdy returns to Fox News as contributor MORE (R-S.C.) and Tulsi GabbardTulsi GabbardPoll: Sanders holds 5-point lead over Buttigieg in New Hampshire Gabbard defeats man in push-up contest at New Hampshire town hall Gabbard on personal meeting with Sanders: 'He showed me the greatest respect' MORE (D-Hawaii). 

 

Lawmakers have been hesitant to directly criticize Yahoo or intel officials over the reports. Earlier this month, Sen. Ron WydenRonald (Ron) Lee WydenHillicon Valley: Biden calls for revoking tech legal shield | DHS chief 'fully expects' Russia to try to interfere in 2020 | Smaller companies testify against Big Tech 'monopoly power' Lawmakers call for FTC probe into top financial data aggregator Overnight Health Care: Progressives raise red flags over health insurer donations | Republican FTC commish backs Medicare negotiating drug prices | Trump moves to protect money for religious groups MORE (D-Ore.) issued a statement saying that if the National Security Agency had surveilled citizens in the manner described by reports, then “the executive branch has an obligation to notify the public.”

 

The American Civil Liberties Union was less cautious, as lawyer Patrick ToomeyPatrick (Pat) Joseph ToomeyNSA improperly collected US phone records in October, new documents show Overnight Defense: Pick for South Korean envoy splits with Trump on nuclear threat | McCain blasts move to suspend Korean military exercises | White House defends Trump salute of North Korean general WH backpedals on Trump's 'due process' remark on guns MORE blasted both Yahoo and the government in a statement this month.

 

"The government appears to have compelled Yahoo to conduct precisely the type of general, suspicionless search that the Fourth Amendment was intended to prohibit,” Toomey wrote.

 

“It is deeply disappointing that Yahoo declined to challenge this sweeping surveillance order, because customers are counting on technology companies to stand up to novel spying demands in court.”