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The Army general<\/span> nominated to lead the National Security Agency was asked repeatedly this month about how he would use the agency\u2019s vast spying powers.<\/p>\n Lt. Gen. Joshua Rudd kept his answers vague.<\/p>\n He claimed to know little about a two-decade debate over \u201cbackdoor\u201d searches on Americans. He dodged a question about whether the NSA should participate in President Donald Trump\u2019s crackdown <\/a>on antifa<\/a>. And when asked about whether he would illegally target Americans, he responded curtly that he would follow the law.<\/p>\n The backdoor searches are among of the most controversial issues about NSA spying. Under current law, the federal government is allowed to search for information on U.S. citizens and residents in the vast troves of communications the NSA has collected while searching for foreign threats.<\/p>\n \u201cWyden strongly believes the government should get a warrant before searching for and viewing Americans\u2019 communications.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/figure>\n Privacy advocates have long argued that those backdoor searches are a huge privacy violation, pointing to the thousands of times the FBI has misused<\/a> its backdoor search authority.<\/p>\n The government\u2019s authority to conduct such searches expires in April. Rudd said in a written questionnaire that he did not know much about the law that has long dominated headlines about the NSA.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is an issue I have limited familiarity within my current role with USINDOPACOM,\u201d he said<\/a>, referring to his current role as deputy head of the Army\u2019s United States Indo-Pacific Command. \u201cAt this time, I defer to NSA leadership to fully characterize the existing efforts taking place under this authority. If confirmed, I fully commit to working with Congress on all matters related to this authority.\u201d<\/p>\n When he appears before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Tuesday, he could face more direct questioning. Senators including Ron Wyden, D-Ore., have often used such hearings to probe appointees\u2019 positions on spying powers.<\/p>\n \u201cSen. Wyden strongly believes the government should get a warrant before searching for and viewing Americans\u2019 communications,\u201d said Keith Chu, a spokesperson for Wyden. \u201cGovernment officials who are serious about protecting Constitutional rights should endorse that view.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Rudd, a career Army officer, was tapped by Trump earlier this year to replace the previous NSA director, who was ousted after a campaign by conservative influencer Laura Loomer.<\/a><\/p>\n While Democrats would face long odds to derail Rudd\u2019s nomination, and have shown no appetite for doing so, his Senate confirmation hearings will likely provide the best insight into how he might lead the NSA.<\/p>\n Rudd largely managed to keep his views on hot-button issues closely held at a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on January 15. He was so noncommittal that at one point the Republican chair of the committee, Sen. Roger Wicker, R- Miss., urged him to be more open about his views.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s OK to tell us and, actually, it would be helpful,\u201d Wicker said.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n\n
Say Nothing<\/strong><\/h2>\n