Himes Calls Trump’s DNI Pick Bill Pulte ‘Most Dangerous
Democratic Congressman Jim Himes called incoming acting DNI Bill Pulte the most dangerous Trump pick, saying his appointment has killed prospects for reauthorizing Section 702 surveillance legislation.
Speaking on CBS during a Sunday appearance on Face the Nation, according to Breitbart News, Himes argued that Pulte’s selection has effectively killed prospects for reauthorizing Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, a controversial but widely-used intelligence gathering tool.
The Connecticut lawmaker pointed to recent letters from Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Chuck Grassley as acknowledgment that the Pulte appointment has removed Section 702 reauthorization from legislative consideration. Himes stated that roughly half of the 42 House Democrats who previously supported the measure would now oppose it due to concerns about Pulte overseeing surveillance authorities.
Democrats Demand Withdrawal of Pulte Nomination
Himes insisted the only viable path forward requires President Trump to reverse course and withdraw the Pulte appointment in favor of someone with more experience and broader congressional confidence. He expressed doubt this would occur but maintained it represents the sole solution to the current impasse.
When pressed on whether Democrats would withhold votes until Pulte is removed, Himes clarified that the House has already passed FISA reauthorization legislation. The burden now falls on the Senate, he noted, though he questioned whether the House could pass another bill with Pulte in position.
National Security Stakes and Partisan Blame
The congressman warned that failure to reauthorize Section 702 could leave the nation vulnerable to terrorist attacks, pushing back against suggestions from Senator Cotton that opposition to the bill represents a purely Democratic obstruction. Himes characterized resistance to Pulte as bipartisan, countering Republican attempts to frame the issue along party lines.
Himes rejected the notion that Secretary of State Marco Rubio could broker a compromise on an alternative nominee, emphasizing that only President Trump has the authority to resolve the situation by reconsidering what Himes termed the worst and most dangerous appointment among a basket of controversial selections.
The standoff highlights deepening tensions over intelligence oversight as the Trump administration seeks to install loyalists in key national security positions while facing resistance from lawmakers concerned about potential abuse of surveillance powers.
With information from Breitbart News
