FBI Director Robert Mueller is testifying before the House Judiciary Committee right now. In one of the more contentious exchanges of an otherwise rather congenial hearing, Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA) grilled Mueller on the FBI’s mishandling of National Security Letter authorities, in which FBI agents obtain data without warrants about individuals “relevant” to terrorism investigations. Mueller emphasized the need for speed in terrorism cases, but Scott had a hard time understanding one thing: Why does the FBI need NSLs if the bureau can obtain warrants after the fact for records under FISA?
Mueller’s response? If not for the NSLs, the post-facto warrants mean agents will get bogged down in “paperwork” up to “a quarter-inch thick”:
Later in the hearing, Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA) helpfully reminded Mueller that NSL-acquired information helps formulate warrant requests under FISA.