WASHINGTON – A Democratic lawmaker wants to force a secret court that oversees U.S. government plans to spy on terror and espionage suspects to hear from lawyers who would argue against doing so.
Rep. Adam Schiff said Thursday he plans to file legislation that would allow judges on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to hear both sides of classified cases.
The court isn't open to the public and hears only from Justice Department attorneys when it considers approving applications to seize communications of foreign suspects in terror and spy cases.
Last month, National Security Agency leaker Edward Snowden revealed two classified programs to thwart terror attacks that critics say invade privacy rights.
The court approved one of the programs, to let the government sweep up millions of Americans' telephone records each day.
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