Trump Asks for Spy Law Extension as Pulte Pick Stokes Unease (2)

President Donald Trump has called on Congress to temporarily extend expiring electronic surveillance powers as he weighs his choice for a permanent National Intelligence director, signaling his controversial decision to appoint Bill Pulte acting chief will be short-lived.

Trump stunned Washington last week when he selected Pulte – a loyalist who has used his perch as director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to launch investigations into perceived political adversaries – to take over as acting spy chief on June 19, replacing outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard.

Democrats quickly threatened to withhold votes on the surveillance extension over the Pulte ...