Trump threatened Tuesday to block renewal of warrantless surveillance unless it was attached to his voter ID bill in a spat with Congress over key security and law enforcement nominations. Photo by Yoan Valet/EPA
June 17 (UPI) -- President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he would not approve any renewal by Congress of the expired Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act unless it agreed to his demand to link it with a voter ID bill amid a spat over Trump's pick for the new national intelligence director.
Trump wrote in a social media post that he was pulling the Senate confirmation hearing for Jay Clayton, scheduled to be held later Wednesday, and would keep acting director William Pulte in post until his personal lawyer, Jamie McDonald, is confirmed as Clayton's replacement as the U.S attorney in Manhattan.
"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," wrote Trump.
"Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are canceling 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," he added.
