Trump says Pulte to remain acting director of national intelligence in Truth Social post
president Donald Trump announced that Bill Pulte will remain as acting Director of National Intelligence amid legislative delays over the reauthorization of FISA Section 702. trump criticized Democrats for political games and breaking a deal with Republicans, who had agreed too remove William Pulte in exchange for FISA approval. He also criticized Republicans for thier stance on “blue slipping,” a process for confirming judicial nominees, which trump opposes. Trump indicated he would not approve FISA unless the “Save America Act” is passed and canceled upcoming hearings for his DNI nominee, Jay Clayton, until U.S. Attorney Jamie McDonald is confirmed. He emphasized that Bill Pulte would continue as acting DNI until further notice.
President Donald Trump said early Wednesday morning that Bill Pulte would remain as acting director of national intelligence amid the legislative stall involving the reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Trump blasted “Dumocrats” for playing political games involving FISA and his political appointments and accused them of “breaking a deal.” The president made these announcements in an early-morning post on his Truth Social account.
“The Republicans agreed with Dumocrats to remove very fair, and talented, William Pulte, from serving as Acting DNI in return for getting FISA approved by the Dumocrats,” posted Trump. “However, the Republicans moved so fast with the hearings of the Great Jay Clayton, current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, that Pulte would be gone before the Dumocrats would vote on FISA.”
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Trump elaborated on the Democrats’ political scheming, saying that while Republicans upheld their end of the political bargain, it was Democrats who failed to honor their end and “broke the deal.” In explaining the current stalemate, Trump also criticized Republicans for their position on “blue slipping,” calling it “ridiculous.”
“In addition, the newly nominated U.S. Attorney, Jamie McDonald, must be confirmed and blue slipped,” Trump said. “Because of the ridiculous views of Republicans on blue slipping (Dumocrats are often willing to nix it), I may not be able to get the extraordinary Sullivan & Cromwell Partner, Jamie, approved, and I don’t want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie is in place.”
“Blue slips” is a process used by the Senate Judiciary Committee for the advancement of judicial nominations for U.S. circuit and district courts. The SJC chairman sends a blue-colored form to the senators representing the home state of a presidential nominee to the courts to assess the judicial nominee. Senators then convey their approval or disapproval on the form and return it to the chairman, or withhold it if they disapprove of the nominee. Trump has long opposed this process.
TRUMP GIVES REPUBLICANS NEW FISA HEADACHE WITH SAVE AMERICA ACT DEMAND
He continued this position on Wednesday and said that Republicans “fell into a trap” set by the Democrats. As a result, Trump was keeping Pulte as acting DNI, cancelling the scheduled DNI appointment hearing of Jay Clayton, and he reiterated his prior demand that he would not approve FISA without the “Save America Act” going along with it. He also announced the cancellation of the Senate hearing for Trump’s replacement nomination for the director of national intelligence.
“Therefore, to add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,” Trump said. “Not complicated, actually, the Republicans fell into a trap. Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until Jamie McDonald is approved to be U.S. Attorney.”
“In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence,” Trump said.
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