Wyden Says FBI Leadership Failures Underscore Need For Independent Oversight

In response to ongoing, unchecked leaks at the FBI, and what he claims is a pattern of poor judgement by FBI Director James Comey, US Senator Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), said, “The continued leadership failures at the FBI are another reminder we can’t let intelligence agencies say ‘trust us’ and then give them a blank check to probe into Americans’ lives.”

Wyden’s comments come following news that the FBI is continuing its investigations into Democrat Presidential Candidate Hillary Clinton’s emails.

Wyden said that while he has argued for years that Congress must create ironclad protections for Americans’ security and privacy, “we also need vigilant oversight of agencies that have the power to deprive citizens of their liberty or change the course of an election.”

According to Wyden, “It is clear the FBI would benefit from a strong, independent inspector general, and that moves to weaken independent watchdogs like the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board only embolden leaders at FBI and elsewhere who believe the rules don’t apply to them.”