Lawmakers Invoke Obscure Statute to Force Probe of Trump-Era Surveillance Tactics

Lawmakers Invoke Obscure Statute to Force Probe of Trump-Era Surveillance Tactics

Democratic lawmakers Ron Wyden and Pramila Jayapal asked the GAO to audit the Trump administration's use of little-known customs summonses to secretly obtain phone records, financial data and online information on journalists, unions and critics without court approval. The request highlights privacy risks and extra-legal nondisclosure pressures on companies. It builds on earlier inspector general findings of misuse.