Is this a new thing they just discovered? Because if it isn't, I have to believe it's all just more bullshyt distraction, otherwise they'd have released it a long time ago.
...right?
A FISA warrant means the evidence was presented to FISA court judges who determine if the issue was serious enough to wiretap the people in question. The GOP wants you to believe they are given out like candy on a whim by anyone. That isn't the case. Neither Obama nor Hillary nor Eric Holder nor Lorretta Lynch etc could have issued these warrants..only the judges
Eleven federal district judges serve on a rotating basis, usually for one week at a time. All judges have a maximum term of seven years with the FISA court.
And only one person has the power to appoint the judges: Chief Justice of the United States John Roberts.
Congress doesn't need to confirm which federal judges take on the added responsibility of serving on the FISA court.
The judges come from across the country -- in fact, they have to come from at least seven of the US judicial circuits.
In theory, those judges can issue warrants from anywhere, said University of Texas law professor and CNN contributor Steve Vladeck. But in practice, the judges usually issue orders during the weeks when they're "on rotation" at the FISA court in Washington.
Don't believe the hype. A judge would have only allowed wiretapping if there was a good reason.
Now if you want to argue civil liberties that's another thing. That isn't the argument here though.