Jeffries Says Democrats Will Block FISA Section 702 Renewal While Pulte Serves as Acting DNI

House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Monday he will not vote to renew Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act while Bill Pulte serves as acting director of national intelligence. “Reversing the Bill Pulte appointment is a starting point, not an ending point,” Jeffries said. He added there was no scenario in which he would reauthorize the law with Pulte in the post.

Jeffries told reporters that negotiations over the must-pass legislation were already in a sensitive place before President Trump named Pulte. The main point of contention is whether the bill should require a warrant to access communications of Americans incidentally collected while the government targets foreigners abroad.

” Jeffries noted that Senate Majority Leader John Thune has also said Pulte is not qualified for the intelligence role.

Pulte continues to hold his position at the Federal Housing Finance Agency and has no national security or intelligence experience. During his time at the FHFA, Pulte referred several Trump opponents for criminal prosecution on allegations of mortgage fraud, including Sen. Adam Schiff, Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook, former Rep.

Eric Swalwell and New York Attorney General Letitia James.