J.D. Vance blames Kamala Harris and her policies for the consequences of government surveillance expansion

11/01/2024 / By Laura Harris

Ohio Senator and Republican vice presidential candidate J.D. Vance has blamed the policies of Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris for the consequences of the expansion of government surveillance.

In a recent episode of the “Tim Dillon Show,” Vance delved into issues related to the intelligence community, the involvement of Big Tech in censorship and the lasting impact of the 2001 Patriot Act on citizens’ privacy rights. During the hour-long discussion, Vance remarked on how intelligence agencies continue to expand their influence while average Americans struggle with inflation and housing costs. (Related: J.D. Vance criticizes Kamala Harris for struggling to answer interview questions about her economic and foreign policy.)

“I recognize that the biggest crisis facing my fellow Americans is not that they can’t afford groceries or housing, but that a [Central Intelligence Agency] CIA bureaucrat making $190,000 a year might have to find a job in the private sector.” He went on to stress the increasing disconnection between the priorities of intelligence agencies and the everyday needs of Americans.

Moreover, Vance suggested that Harris and her policies contribute to housing challenges supporting an expanded surveillance state. “It’s really you know, a win-win…Kamala Harris’s defense…she’s made it harder for Americans to afford housing but that’s been in the service so the CIA can more easily spy on our fellow Americans,” he said.

Vance: Government “creating a back door” for foreign adversaries through surveillance

Vance’s sentiments extend to the technological infrastructure supporting government surveillance.

During the interview, Vance cited an October article from the Wall Street Journal, wherein a major cybersecurity breach involving Chinese hackers infiltrated U.S. telecom networks, including Verizon and AT&T, originally secured under the Patriot Act’s surveillance infrastructure. The hackers, linked to a group called Salt Typhoon, focused on government surveillance and wiretapping systems.

Vance pointed out that while this surveillance was designed for national security, it has exposed American networks to potential foreign exploitation. “We’re creating a back door in our own technology networks that our enemies are now using. That’s crazy…no one is going to accept responsibility for it,” he said.

Moreover, Vance argued that these powers have made America vulnerable to international cyber threats. “Part of the infrastructure [China] hacked into was built on top of surveillance systems that were implemented in 2001 – Patriot Act-style stuff. So, you know, we’re worried about the civil libertarian element of that, and rightfully so…I don’t want American citizens to be spied on. But the more important issue, in some ways, is we’re creating a backdoor in our own technology networks that our enemies are now using. That’s crazy.”

The Patriot Act, enacted after the 9/11 attacks, sought to bolster national security by increasing law enforcement’s powers to surveil potential threats. However, it has long faced criticism for infringing on civil liberties and privacy rights.

Visit VoteRepublican.news for more news about the ongoing GOP campaign.

Watch this video of Republican National Committee Committeewoman for Texas Debbie Georgatos describing all the lies Tim Walz said during the vice presidential debate.

This video is from the Moms on a Mission channel on Brighteon.com.