During his testimony at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing this Tuesday on the riot at the U.S. Capitol this past Jan. 6, FBI Director Christopher Wray took questions from Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO), who called into question the FBI's method of investigating those who participated in the riot, suggesting that the analysis of cellphone metadata may be unlawful.
Sen. Josh Hawley (R-MO) asks FBI Director Christopher Wray about the FBI's collection of cellphone metadata during the Capitol insurrection.
Wray says: "I feel confident that we are using various legal authorities to look at metadata," but says he can't speak to specifics. pic.twitter.com/af56EsQQXm
— The Recount (@therecount) March 2, 2021
But according to cyber security expert and former FBI special agent Clint Watts, Hawley's line of questioning was "deeply misleading" adding that "all investigations involve the pursuit of records," including "banking and communications records."
"...this is straight disinformation strategy, and yet these same legislators will be whining when FBI doesn't preemptively stop a terrorist attack or crime," Watts tweeted.
