Trump Says Bill Pulte Will Probe 'Rigged Elections' in Short-Term DNI Role
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Trump Says Bill Pulte Will Probe 'Rigged Elections' in Short-Term DNI Role
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Jun 4
Summary
Trump said Bill Pulte could uncover facts about “rigged elections” while serving briefly as acting director of national intelligence, extending his evidence-free claims about US voting.
12:48 a.m. Thursday, Trump also alleged without evidence that Democrats were cheating in California primaries and said the US attorney’s office in Los Angeles was investigating; the office declined comment.
Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director, was installed earlier this week after Tulsi Gabbard’s exit and is not expected to stay permanently in the intelligence post.
Bipartisan criticism sharpened because Pulte lacks national security experience: John Thune warned against a “weaponized” DNI, Mitch McConnell said statutory experience is required, and Mark Warner called the pick political retribution.
Pulte already drew scrutiny last year for referring several prominent Trump critics for alleged mortgage fraud in cases critics said were weak and politically motivated.