Trump DNI pick Pulte gets U.S. intelligence access

Bill Pulte, President Donald Trump‘s controversial pick serve as acting director of National Intelligence, is poised to assume that role on Friday after Trump thwarted Senate Republicans’ efforts to fast-track confirming his nomination of Jay Clayton for that spot.

Trump’s surprising move will give Pulte access to the most secret of U.S. intelligence data despite concerns he could use such information to target foes of the president.

Trump on Wednesday effectively said he would keep Pulte serving as acting DNI, and prevented the Senate from hearing from Clayton that same day in his confirmation hearing until Congress jumped through several legislative hoops.

Trump said he would not sign an extension of a crucial national security program, even if it is passed by Congress, unless it includes the passage of a controversial Voter ID and proof of citizenship election bill.

Trump also said that the Senate must confirm James McDonald, Clayton’s would-be replacement as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, before Clayton can be confirmed by the Senate as national intelligence director.

Democrats have vowed to oppose any extension of the national security program — Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act — as long as Pulte is Trump’s DNI pick. And it is not clear there are even enough Republican senator votes to pass the election bill.

Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., on Thursday, called Pulte a “national security threat.”

“Donald Trump treats our national security like a political bargaining chip,” said Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.

“Most of the stuff here is Democrats versus Republicans. This is not Democrats versus Republicans,” Warner said.

“This is sensible members of both parties in the Senate saying let’s avoid a disaster, and Donald Trump is throwing a live hand grenade.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, R-S.D., on Thursday said of Trump: “Well, I think he’s very committed to Bill Pulte.”

Thune and other Republicans had hoped to appease Democrats by quickly confirming Clayton, opening the door to a FISA extension.

Asked what was next for Clayton’s nomination and for FISA, Thune said, “I’ve never been asked to slow a nomination down before, so that’s probably a good question for the White House.” 

Republicans and Democrats have questioned Pulte’s fitness for the job, citing a lack of national intelligence experience and his actions as the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Pulte has instigated several probes into Trump opponents over alleged mortgage fraud in his role at the agency.

Critics of Trump’s move said that the president was endangering national security both by elevating Pulte…