WASHINGTON — Democrats in the House of Representatives voted down a short-term extension of a key spy law over President Donald Trump’s plans to put a loyalist in charge of federal spy agencies.
The House on Thursday rejected an extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act by a vote of 198 to 218, with only seven Democrats in favor and 19 Republicans against.
Lawmakers have been fighting over the law for years, with a coalition of far-right Republicans and progressive Democrats insisting the government should have to get a warrant when it wants to look through American communications captured in the course of foreign surveillance.
But Trump’s decision to name Bill Pulte as director of national intelligence has disgusted even Democratic hawks who always vote to extend the surveillance powers. Pulte is a former real estate developer with no national security experience but a recent history of willingly serving as Trump’s attack dog.
“Bill Pulte doesn’t get one day with this authority, because we know he’ll abuse it,” Rep. Jim Himes (D-Conn.), the top Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, told HuffPost.
Himes, a longtime vehement defender of Section 702, was one of 42 House Democrats who voted for a previous short-term extension in April.
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Having Democrats like Himes and Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.) willing to vote against a FISA reauthorization could be a boost to reformers, who’ve often shied from actually blocking legislation amid threats that doing so could expose the U.S. to terrorist threats.
“Maybe the threat that we’re not going to support you will finally get you guys serious about it,” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) said on the House floor before Thursday’s vote.
Trump said Wednesday he only wanted a short-term FISA extension to give him time to name a permanent successor for outgoing spy chief Tulsi Gabbard, but he has so far rebuffed demands from Democrats — and Republicans — to pick someone other than Pulte.
“There’s one easy way out, which is the president nominates somebody who can be confirmed, and then we’re all back in business, having a good conversation rather than a stupid conversation,” Himes said.
Plenty of Republicans have also complained about Trump naming Pulte — especially right before FISA was set to expire.
“It would be nice if he got some feedback before he does something,” Rep. Don Bacon (R-Neb.) told HuffPost.
House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) said letting Section 702 lapse would put the public at risk of a terrorist attack.
“The reason we have not had a mass casualty event like 9/11 since that great tragedy is because we have this statute, and today the Democrats in the House just voted it down,” Johnson told reporters.