Obama ‘Disingenuous’ About Ending NSA Bulk Collection

Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., claims that President Barack Obama has been “disingenuous” about ending the National Security Agency’s bulk collection of Americans’ phone records.
Speaking to “CBS This Morning” on Tuesday, the Republican presidential candidate says Obama can end the NSA program at any time if he so chooses.
“Here’s the thing about the president – he’s disingenuous about this. The president started the program through executive order, he can end it at any time,” Paul told “CBS This Morning.” “The Second Court of Appeals – the court right below the Supreme Court – said that it’s illegal. Why doesn’t he stop it? What’s he waiting for? He says, ‘Oh, Congress can stop it.’ He started it on his own, he should stop it. And I’ve asked the president repeatedly to stop the program.”
Paul took to the Senate floor for more than 10 hours last week, opposing the reauthorization of key parts of the Patriot Act. In a chaotic scene during the wee hours of Saturday, Senate Republicans blocked a bill known as the USA Freedom Act, which would have ended the NSA’s bulk collection but preserved its ability to search the records held by the phone companies on a case-by-case basis. The bill was backed by Obama, House Republicans and the nation’s top law enforcement and intelligence officials.

 

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