Rep. Jim Himes Critiques Pulte’s Appointment as Director of National Intelligence
On CBS’s “Face the Nation” this past Sunday, Representative Jim Himes (D-Conn.) labeled Bill Pulte, the upcoming acting director of national intelligence, as President Donald Trump’s “worst and most dangerous” pick.
Himes expressed his thoughts, saying he had noticed letters from Tom Cotton and Chuck Grassley indicating they might be recognizing the reality of the situation. Pulte’s appointment, he suggested, has complicated the reauthorization of Section 702. The House had previously voted to advance the bill, with 42 Democrats supporting it. However, Himes pointed out that many Democrats have now withdrawn their support, revealing, “I wasn’t thrilled about this authority in the first place. It’s controversial, and with Bill Pulte committed to misusing it, I’m definitely not on board.” Following this, Himes noted that the Senate’s reauthorization process has failed, leaving a challenging scenario. He stated, “The only reasonable solution, Margaret, which I’m not overly optimistic will happen, is for the president to admit, ‘Oops, that was a mistake,’ and replace Pulte with someone who would instill confidence across the board, someone experienced who wouldn’t misuse the intelligence apparatus. This is really the only viable option, and Trump could act on it immediately.”
Brennan followed up, suggesting that Democrats might stall voting until Pulte’s nomination is settled, highlighting that presidents generally do not retract decisions. She asked if the White House, along with Marco Rubio—who had recently visited the Capitol—was collaborating with Democrats to find an alternative candidate for Pulte.
Himes reminded listeners that from his position in the House, they’ve already passed a bill for FISA reauthorization, hinting that the question of how to move forward now fell to the Senate. When Brennan interjected about potential roadblocks, Himes confirmed, “Yes. The Senate needs to either pass the existing bill or the one that has already come from the House. That’s where we are right now.” He also implied that proposing another bill in context with Pulte would likely be futile, regardless of Rubio’s supposed efforts.
Himes continued, saying, “That’s not how things will unfold. The president really needs to reassess, as this appointment is among the most troubling he has made—and possibly the worst. While I understand his reluctance to back down, he must also consider the implications of a potential terror attack without the Section 702 collection authority. It’s worth noting that Pulte’s appointment has been criticized across party lines.”
