Sen. Cotton: Texas Attack Shows Need to Renew Patriot Act

The attack by two pro-Islamic State (ISIS) gunmen in Garland, Texas, on Sunday shows the need for a renewal of the Patriot Act, Sen. Tom Cotton said Wednesday.

The act, which was signed into law after the attacks on 9/11 is set to expire June 1, has found critics on the left and right over what they believe to be overreaches in data collection against American citizens not suspected of terrorism.

Cotton, an Arkansas Republican and veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars, told CNN's "The Situation Room with Wolf Blitzer," on Wednesday that he has been briefed on the attack that left the two gunmen, both American citizens, dead.

"I don't want to speak about specific intelligence matters or the ongoing investigation, but I think there's no doubt the Islamic State inspired this attack and they are actively trying to inspire attacks," he said. "They are telling Westerners in Western Europe or North America, stay home, attack your homeland. Don't come to Iraq and Syria."

It is important for Congress to reauthorize the provisions of the Patriot Act to help stop such attacks, he said.

"There's no doubt if you look on social media that this is an Islamic State-inspired attack, regardless whether an Islamic State-plotted or -resourced or -planned attack," Cotton said.

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