U.S. Representative Paul Gosar announced on April 19 a series of updates including his opposition to the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), introduction of new legislation targeting congressional misconduct, and recognition of local student artists.
Gosar said he voted against advancing FISA reauthorization because it did not include sufficient protections for Americans’ rights. He said the bill allowed federal agencies to access citizens’ communications without a warrant, which he described as a violation of the Fourth Amendment. “I will not support warrantless surveillance of Americans, hard stop,” Gosar said. He also criticized the legislative process for taking place late at night and without adequate transparency.
The congressman introduced the “Stopping Wasteful Allowances for Lawmaker Wrongdoing and Ensuring Legal Liability Act,” or SWALWELL Act, which he described as an effort to end taxpayer-funded settlements related to misconduct by members of Congress or their staff. The act would require offenders to pay out-of-pocket for any settlements and create a public database with information about such cases while protecting victims’ identities. “This bill ends Washington’s two-tiered system and restores accountability: if you betray the public trust, you will be exposed and you will pay,” Gosar said.
Gosar also addressed recent developments concerning former President Donald Trump’s impeachment proceedings in 2019. He referenced reports that suggested coordination between intelligence officials and congressional Democrats regarding whistleblower complaints against Trump. “Taken together, these revelations point to the troubling fact that powerful government tools were abused to manufacture a politically motivated case against President Trump,” Gosar said.
In community news, Gosar announced winners from Arizona’s Ninth Congressional District Art Competition held at Sigler Western Museum in Wickenburg. Kady Klatt won first place with her charcoal piece “Portrait of Finn Wolfhard.” Other students recognized included Carmen Baker (second place), Edith Belsterling (third place), Valeria Alvarado Perez (honorable mention), Farrah Doss (People’s Choice co-winner), among others.
Paul Gosar has served in Congress representing Arizona’s 9th District since 2011 according to official records. In both 2022 and 2024 general elections, he won by wide margins over his opponents as reported by Ballotpedia. Born in Rock Springs, Wyoming in 1958, Gosar is currently 64 years old and resides in Bullhead City according to biographical information. He graduated from Creighton University with a Bachelor of Science degree in 1981 according to Congress.gov.
