Senate Democrats block extension of spy powers to protest Trump’s choice of Pulte for DNI

Senate Democrats early Friday morning blocked a motion to begin debate on extending the nation’s enhanced surveillance authorities, which are due to expire in a week, to protest President Trump’s appointment of Bill Pulte to serve as acting director of national intelligence.

Every Senate Democrat except for Sen. John Fetterman (D-Pa.) voted against the motion to proceed to the House message, which would have served as the legislative vehicle for passing an extension of enhanced surveillance authorities under Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) before they expire on June 12.

The motion to proceed to the legislation failed by a vote of 47 to 52.

Six Republicans voted with Democrats against moving to the bill. They were Sens. Josh Hawley (R-Mo.), Mike Lee (R-Utah), Rand Paul (R-Ky.), Eric Schmitt (R-Mo.), Rick Scott (R-Fla.) and Tommy Tuberville (R-Ala.).

Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) had been very close to a deal with Senate Democrats to extend the spy powers, but the plan to pass legislation next week fell apart.

Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Democrats couldn’t stand by and vote to authorize enhanced surveillance authorities when Pulte would be in a position to use intelligence information against Trump’s political enemies.

“The bipartisan bill that Tom Cotton and I worked on was a good bill but the idea that a few days before critical moments on FISA renewal that the president picked someone so grossly unqualified. You just can’t abide that,”........

© The Hill