President Trump checkmated the Democrats and RINOs early on Wednesday morning, announcing that the Senate hearing on Jay Clayton to serve as Director of National Intelligence will be canceled, and that Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte will remain in place to serve as acting DNI.
This comes amid the ongoing debate over FISA Section 702, which the Intelligence Community uses for warrantless surveillance on national security threats– as well as innocent Americans.
“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,’ Trump said in a statement this morning.
“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. Now, the Dumocrats are saying they will vote against FISA — So, the Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal.”
Per The Hill:
The Senate Intelligence Committee this week is set to hold a confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, President Trump’s pick to serve as director of national intelligence, as lawmakers search for a solution to revive the government’s lapsed warrantless surveillance authority.
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) expired on June 12 after Congress failed to reach an agreement on even a short-term extension, leaving lawmakers searching for a path forward.
Democrats have signaled they will oppose moving any extension until Trump withdraws his appointment of Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
Trump further slammed Republicans for their “ridiculous views” on the blue slip process for US Attorney nominees, noting that his new US Attorney nominee, Jamie McDonald, “must be confirmed” before Jay Clayton can be removed as US Attorney for the Southern District of New York (SDNY) and sworn in as DNI.
“Therefore,” Trump said, “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.” He added, “Not complicated, actually, the Republicans fell into a trap.”
Now, he’s holding the Director of National Intelligence nomination and FISA renewal hostage until he gets the SAVE America Act and Jamie McDonald confirmed for the SDNY.
Full statement below:
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. 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. Now, the Dumocrats are saying they will vote against FISA — So, the Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal.
In addition, the newly nominated U.S. Attorney, Jamie McDonald, must be confirmed and blue slipped. 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.
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. 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. Thank you for your attention to this matter! President DONALD J. TRUMP
Pulte is scheduled to take over the Office of the Director of National Intelligence on Friday.
Trump announced last week that he was “working closely with Tulsi Gabbard” and would fill the role sooner than Gabbard’s previously announced June 30 departure.
This is a developing story.
Jordan Conradson is The Gateway Pundit’s White House correspondent. Jordan has played a critical role in exposing fraud and corruption in Arizona’s elections and elected officials. His reporting on election crimes in Maricopa County led to the resignation of one election official, and he was later banned from the Maricopa County press room for his courage in pursuit of the truth. TGP and Jordan finally gained access after suing Maricopa County, America’s fourth largest county, and winning at the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals. Conradson looks forward to bringing his aggressive style of journalism to the Swamp.
You can email Jordan Conradson here, and read more of Jordan Conradson’s articles here.
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