The U.S. House of Representatives failed to pass a reauthorization of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the post-9/11 wiretapping law that often captures communications from Americans. The vote failed 218-198, with 19 Republicans joining the vast majority of Democrats in the House to vote against it. Seven Democrats voted in favor, along with most Republicans. Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries signaled earlier this week that Democrats would not vote for the bill as President Donald Trump continued to act recklessly with U.S. national security. The main sticking point for those opposed to reauthorizing 702 is the recent announcement that Bill Pulte will soon be serving as acting Director of National Intelligence. Pulte has no national security experience, something that’s required by law for someone to hold that position. Pulte has been serving as head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency during Trump’s second term and is perhaps best known for recommending that the U.S. Department of Justice open investigations into New York Attorney General Letitia James and Federal Reserve board member Lisa Cook over supposed mortgage fraud.
The investigations have been widely seen as nothing more than a campaign of retribution against Trump’s perceived political enemies. And Democrats, along with 19 Republicans, want to see someone else in the role of Director of National Intelligence.
