Johnson: “Democrats wouldn’t trust Jesus”

Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) on Wednesday criticized Democrats threatening to oppose reauthorization of a key surveillance authority over the appointment of Bill Pulte as acting director of national intelligence.
 
“The president obviously has the prerogative and the choice on who he appoints to these positions, and this would be an interim appointment,” the speaker said of Mr. Pulte, the current Federal Housing Finance Agency director, who has no background in intelligence or military matters.
 
Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), which allows the U.S. government to monitor communications of foreigners abroad without a warrant, is set to expire June 12.
 
“We enacted it in Congress after 9/11. The reason we haven’t had another 9/11 on our shores is because we have this critically important national security tool,” Speaker Johnson said. “It is the most important intelligence tool that we have. The idea that they would try to play politics right now because they don’t like the president’s choice of an appointment is absolutely stunning to me.”
 
Republicans have proposed a three-year extension of the surveillance authority but will need significant Democratic support to pass it through Congress. Democrats are threatening to withhold that support over the appointment of Mr. Pulte, whom they say they do not trust in the position.
 
“The Democrats wouldn’t trust Jesus,” the speaker said. “They’re playing political games. The Democrats are not willing to do anything, even the most simple, basic, important responsibility to keep the American people safe because they want to make life hard for the president.”

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Видео Johnson: “Democrats wouldn’t trust Jesus” канала C-SPAN