Cotton argues against a warrant requirement for Section 702 information
Tom CottonU.S. senator and Senate Intelligence Committee chair
Cotton argues that requiring a probable cause warrant to review information collected under Section 702 would be like requiring a new warrant to review lawfully collected evidence, and he objects to proposed conditions he calls unworkable.
“Requiring a probable cause warrant for this information is akin to requiring a police officer to get a new warrant every time he goes into the evidence room to review lawfully collected evidence.”
Original text
Where this statement fits
Griffith seeks Section 702 warrants; Cotton earlier opposed reform conditions
Morgan Griffith and civil-liberties groups seek a warrant requirement before Section 702 renewal. Tom Cotton's earlier objection argues that such conditions would make the program unworkable. Wyden and Schiff also demand disclosure of a classified opinion.
Source and context
Original text
About this source
Cotton supports an extension, rejects proposed conditions and argues against a new warrant requirement to review information already collected. These remarks predate the October demands.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
Cotton asks the Senate to pass a short-term extension of Section 702 and says the program does not target Americans. He says other sections of the law already require a probable cause warrant to target an American, which he calls the great crusade of the Senator from Oregon.
After the quotation
Cotton then says his own legislation adds more than a dozen transparency and privacy measures. After yielding the floor, he calls the Senator from Oregon's proposed conditions totally unworkable and says he objects.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case's reference point is renewing Section 702 without a warrant requirement for searches of Americans' communications. Cotton argues that a probable cause warrant requirement is unnecessary and supports extending the program, which defends renewal without that requirement.
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More from this case
Read the full caseACLU and fellow signatories demand warrants as a condition of renewal
American Civil Liberties Union
“reauthorize Section 702 only with a warrant requirement to access Americans’ private communications.”Read statement
Griffith says there needs to be a warrant requirement for Section 702 searches
“I know there’s big disagreement with some of my colleagues, but I think there needs to be a warrant.”Read statement
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The Dispute Index. "Cotton argues against a warrant requirement for Section 702 information". First published: 2026-10-28. Last updated: 2026-10-28. https://disputeindex.com/events/7056-cotton-argues-that-requiring-a-probable-cause-warrant