In 1941, at the behest of Hoover, Hobbs introduced a bill that would have legalized wiretapping by the FBI, or any other government agency, if it was suspected that a felony was occurring. The bill was supported by Attorney General Robert H. Jackson, and seemed likely to pass, until Federal Communications Commission (FCC) chairman James Lawrence Fly testified against the bill to Congress, and it did not pass.
In 1941, President Hoover prompted Hobbs to introduce a proposal that would have allowed government agencies, including the FBI, to conduct wiretapping if they suspected a serious crime was unfolding. The measure gained support from Attorney General Robert H. Jackson but stalled after FCC chairman James Lawrence Fly testified against it before Congress.