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 AmashRand Paul ramps up his alliance with Trump Ethics watchdog requests probe into Trump officials traveling to campaign events Kavanaugh’s views on privacy, Fourth Amendment should make Republicans think twice 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 GowdyGowdy requests FEMA administrator’s travel records amid allegations Nunes: Russia probe documents should be released before election Gowdy: House Intel panel should release all transcripts from Russia probe MORE (R-S.C.) and Tulsi GabbardTulsi GabbardCongress just failed our nation’s veterans when it comes to medical marijuana Govs. Brown and Cuomo are false climate prophets Overnight Defense: Officials rush to deny writing anonymous op-ed | Lawmakers offer measure on naming NATO headquarters after McCain | US, India sign deal on sharing intel 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 WydenSome employees' personal data revealed in State Department email breach: report Hillicon Valley: North Korean IT firm hit with sanctions | Zuckerberg says Facebook better prepared for midterms | Big win for privacy advocates in Europe | Bezos launches B fund to help children, homeless Hillicon Valley: Trump signs off on sanctions for election meddlers | Russian hacker pleads guilty over botnet | Reddit bans QAnon forum | FCC delays review of T-Mobile, Sprint merger | EU approves controversial copyright law 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 ToomeyOvernight 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 Top GOP candidate drops out of Ohio Senate race 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.”