White House, Times dispute FISA law impact

WASHINGTON, Aug. 6 (UPI) -- A White House spokesman lashed out at The New York Times Monday for saying a new U.S. intelligence law expands domestic surveillance.

A story by Times technical writer James Risen said President George Bush "signed into law on Sunday legislation that broadly expanded the government's authority to eavesdrop on the international telephone calls and e-mail messages of American citizens without warrants."

"This is highly misleading," White House Deputy Press Secretary Tony Fratto said.

In a statement, Fratto said the new law does not change a FISA requirement for court approval before targeting someone in the United States. "The new law makes it clear that a court order is not required to conduct surveillance of foreign intelligence targets located overseas," he said.

In the Times story, Risen said congressional aides and others familiar with the law say "its impact went far beyond the small fixes that administration officials had said were needed ...."

The changes also give "a legal framework" for much of the warrantless surveillance conducted by the National Security Agency outside FISA, Risen said.