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Dick Durbin: “The Trump administration has repeatedly targeted political…”

Featuring: Dick Durbin, Democratic | U.S. Senate Illinois

In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702

Published June 2, 2026 | Video Starts at 08:34

For the rest of this administration, I'm not going to go into the suggestion of Mr. Polte to head our intelligence agencies simply to say totally unqualified. The Trump administration has repeatedly targeted political opponents. We've seen it all across the board, including former Fed Chair Jerome Powell, former FBI Director James Comey, and New York Attorney General Letitia James. (08:34–08:40)

CLAIM

Asserts that the Trump administration targets political opponents.

This is an excerpt from a raw transcript. The assertions have not been audited or verified. Tap the video to view the source footage and understand the context.

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Dick Durbin

“In the process, the government, unfortunately, over the years, collects millions of communications of innocent Americans, people they are…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 02:58-03:11
“The government itself has reported hundreds of thousands of unlawful searches using this authority.”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 05:04-05:13
“The government has used section 702 to spy unlawfully on many people who have they spied on members of Congress, congressional staff…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 05:33-05:53
“The Trump administration removed the three Democrats on the Privacy and Civil Liberties Board so it couldn't function.”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 09:27-09:32
“Under section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance act, the government collects communications of foreigners overseas without a…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 02:41-02:57
“Once collected, the government can search these communications without a warrant from any court.”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 03:12-03:18
“Every American needs to understand that this law, which I referred to, allows the government to listen to your phone calls, read your…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 03:34-03:48
“As detailed in a recent report by the nonpartisan Brennan center, the Federal Bureau of Investigations and the National Security Agency have…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 04:40-04:55
“These abuses, according to the FISA court, have been, quote, persistent and widespread.”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 04:56-05:03
“The current system of Section 702 oversight relies almost entirely on the executive branch self policing to prevent, detect and report…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 06:06-06:20
“The FISA court has already raised concerns about how this Trump administration is using the powers that I've described to you this…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 06:33-06:44
“The Trump administration's disregard for the rule of law is urgent.”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 07:52-07:59
“The Trump administration fired career law enforcement officials and public servants at the FBI and the Department of Justice.”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 09:35-09:44
“Congress should not place blind trust in the hands of [an] administration which clearly can use this surveillance power for political…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 10:28-10:38
“The SAFE act would reauthorize section 702 with basic practical safeguards to protect privacy and civil liberties.”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 12:29-12:48
“Our bill would require the government to obtain a judicial warrant before accessing the contents of America's text, emails, phone calls and…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 12:48-12:59
“Even if the authority temporarily lapses, which I don't believe it will, the surveillance program can continue under existing law as it has…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 13:48-13:58
“I oppose the reauthorization of warrantless surveillance powers under FISA section 702 without guardrails, to better protect the privacy of…”
In Senate Floor Speech, Durbin Calls For Reforms To FISA Section 702 | Uploaded June 2, 2026 | 14:28-14:39