Congressional discord may cause the FBI to lose its ability to collect hotel bills, credit card slips and other “tangible things” they use to hunt down terrorists, spies and criminals.
The FBI uses the authority of Section 215 of the Patriot Act to take “books, records, papers, documents, and other items,” with a court order, to covertly gather evidence against those suspected of spying on America on U.S. soil.
Last month, the FBI rounded up a ring of Russian spies in New York by presenting phone conversations and email communications between two Russian diplomats and a businessman. Similarly, U.S. officials say, the Patriot Act helped nab Kremlin spy Anna Chapman and nine other Russians who were sent back to their country in a spy swap.
However, Section 215 of the Patriot Act is set to expire in June, and lawmakers are conflicted about whether to renew it, reform it or let it expire.
