Rep. Jim Himes says Bill Pulte in intelligence role is Trump's "worst and most dangerous" appointment
Washington — Rep. Jim Himes of Connecticut, the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, lambasted President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte, a controversial housing official, to serve as acting director of national intelligence.
TL;DR
- Rep. Jim Himes, top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, criticized President Trump's appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
- Himes stated Pulte lacks national security experience and called the appointment "the worst and most dangerous" Trump has made.
- The appointment threatens the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which expires Friday.
- National security officials consider Section 702 vital for counter-terrorism and foreign espionage.
- Himes suggested that Pulte's appointment has made Democratic support for reauthorization unlikely.
- Republican Senators Tom Cotton and Chuck Grassley have asked Secretary of State Marco Rubio to prepare for a potential gap in foreign intelligence collection if Section 702 lapses.