While Senate Democrats welcomed the nomination of Jay Clayton to the role of national intelligence director, they continued to insist that, before Clayton's expected confirmation, the acting director must not be Bill Pulte, the political 'attack dog' Donald Trump wants given full access to the nation's secrets. This was reported by Qazaqyia.kz citing The Guardian.
When Trump announced that he was nominating Clayton, he made no mention of also withdrawing Pulte as interim director after Tulsi Gabbard leaves this month. Clayton cannot be confirmed before Gabbard's departure, meaning an acting director will be needed.
'Pulte has to go', Chuck Schumer, the senior Democrat in the Senate told reporters on Thursday. 'He cannot be in the DNI role. Our national security is too important.'
Hakeem Jeffries, the leader of House Democrats, also said that Trump has to 'withdraw' his decision to elevate Pulte to interim intelligence director before Congress can act to extend Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (Fisa), which allows US intelligence agencies to intercept foreign communications without a court warrant, a provision that expires on Friday.
'Under no circumstances should the American people be asked to trust their privacy and national security' to Pulte, the New York congressman told NewsNation.
Mark Warner, the vice-chair of the Senate intelligence committee agreed. 'I have known and respected Jay Clayton for many years and believe he is a capable public servant', Warner said in a statement.
'That said, let me be clear – while I am glad to see the president finally come to his senses, before the Senate can take up a FISA extension there needs to be a clear guarantee that Mr. Pulte will not serve as acting DNI', Warner added. 'Either Director Gabbard must remain in place or the administration must designate the Senate-confirmed Principal Deputy DNI as the acting head through any transition.'