Rep. Martha McSally sent a letter to FBI Director James Comey requesting information about reported surveillance flights over Southern Arizona. The letter follows a recent report describing the repeat occurrences of low-level planes conducting aerial surveillance around Tucson.
A local resident reported observing low-level flights as many as 80 times a day over his property, according to McSally’s press release. Reportedly the aircraft used for the surveillance flights is registered under a name associated with fictitious companies uncovered in a 2015 AP media investigation.
McSally is requesting a “description with as much detail as possible of the scope and purpose of the FBI’s operations, either current or from the last year, in and around Tucson involving these surveillance flights.”
The letter reads:
The Honorable James B. Comey, Jr.
Director
Federal Bureau of Investigation
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, D.C. 20535
Dear Director Comey,
Last year, a journalistic investigation completed by the Associated Press found that the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) had been conducting operations flying surveillance planes over 30 cities in 11 states across the country. More recent reports indicated that similar operations have been carried out in Tucson, Arizona over the past several months. According to FBI spokeswoman Lindsay Ram, these “aviation assets” may be intended to support “investigations targeting specific individuals and, when requested, in support of state and local law enforcement.” In addition, these reports describe the FBI flights that have garnered the attention of my constituents as being registered to a company called “NBY Productions,” prompting further confusion about the nature and purpose of these flights.
The FBI is tasked with protecting the American people. As someone who served 26 years in the U.S. Air Force, including overseeing counterterrorism missions, and who currently serves on the Committees on Homeland Security and Armed Services, I understand the weight of that important mission. However, carrying out this mission must not come at the expense of Americans’ privacy rights. The reported frequency and nature of the recent flights around Tucson raise significant concerns about the preservation of my constituents’ Fourth Amendment rights.
I request a description with as much detail as possible of the scope and purpose of the FBI’s operations, either current or from the last year, in and around Tucson involving these surveillance flights. I understand aspects of this information may be sensitive for public release and therefore am willing to discuss any responses in a classified setting as needed. However, please address as many of these questions in a manner appropriate for public disclosure as possible. I would like to thank you for your attention to this matter and your timely response.
Sincerely,