Congress STRIKES BACK against Trump amid BALLOT SEIZURE
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The Director of National Intelligence (DNI) participating in a domestic FBI ballot seizure is an 'anything but normal' breach of the traditional separation between intelligence and law enforcement.
- ❖Congressman Himes suggests the DNI's presence was a political attempt to align with the president's election fraud narrative and regain favor.
- ❖The administration's dismissal of the DNI's role as 'nothing to see here' is seen as absurd and indicative of a broader effort to normalize intelligence community involvement in domestic affairs.
Insights
1Unprecedented DNI Involvement in Domestic Law Enforcement
Congressman Himes emphasizes that the presence of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI) at an FBI operation to seize 2020 election ballots in Atlanta is highly unusual and crosses a 'very bright line' separating the intelligence community's foreign surveillance capabilities from domestic law enforcement actions. He states that while narrow areas for IC involvement exist, a high-profile figure's direct participation in such an event is a significant departure from norms.
Himes: 'There is a very bright line... between what they do and the borders of the United States... the participation of a very high-profile... the director of national intelligence... in a bizarre law enforcement action is... a very very big deal.'
2Political Motivation for DNI's Presence
Himes speculates that DNI Tulsi Gabbard's involvement was an attempt to re-ingratiate herself with the president. He suggests Gabbard was sidelined by the administration due to her past opposition to foreign intervention and that her presence at the ballot seizure was an effort to get 'back on the president's good side,' knowing the president is 'very happy to mess in an election.'
Himes: 'I suspect I know the answer... Tulsi Gabbard has watched... the administration... has done everything that she spent a lifetime despising in terms of intervention abroad... I think this is partly an effort to get back on the president's good side.'
3Administration's Dismissal and Republican Inaction
The Deputy Attorney General, Todd Blanch, dismissed concerns about Gabbard's presence, stating she 'happened to be present' and that her role 'shouldn't be questioned.' Himes calls this response 'absurd' and criticizes Republican colleagues for their unwillingness to investigate, attributing it to a fear of 'pissing off Donald Trump.'
Blanch: 'She's an extraordinarily important part of this administration... her presence shouldn't be questioned.' Himes: 'It's just absurd... there is no limit to the rationalizations which Republicans will employ to avoid having conversations or doing things that might piss off Donald Trump.'
4Normalizing Intelligence Community in Domestic Affairs
Himes expresses deep concern that these actions are part of a pattern by the administration to 'make us comfortable over time with outrageous things.' He fears the ultimate goal is to normalize the idea of the CIA or NSA operating inside the United States for domestic purposes, driven by 'insane conspiracy theories' about election fraud.
Himes: 'What the Trump administration does is they try to make us comfortable over time with outrageous things... Are we going to be asked to get comfortable with the idea that the CIA is going to pay visits to the local registars of voters? That directionally is where they want to take this.'
Bottom Line
Congressional Democrats, even in the minority, possess leverage to push back against the politicization of intelligence agencies.
While a strongly worded letter may seem insufficient, control over the intelligence community's budget and the reauthorization of critical surveillance authorities like FISA 702 provide significant bargaining power.
If Democrats gain a majority, they can use subpoena power to compel testimony and directly challenge officials like the DNI. Even in the minority, they can threaten to withhold cooperation on essential legislative items, such as FISA 702 reauthorization, to demand accountability and adherence to established norms.
Key Concepts
Bright Line Principle
The concept that there is a clear and critical distinction between the roles and authorities of the intelligence community (focused on foreign threats and surveillance) and domestic law enforcement (focused on internal crimes). Breaching this 'bright line' is seen as a dangerous politicization of intelligence powers.
Normalization of Outrage
The process by which repeated exposure to initially shocking or unacceptable actions (e.g., intelligence officials at domestic law enforcement actions, masked federal agents in cities) leads the public to gradually accept them as normal, thereby lowering the bar for future, more extreme actions.
Lessons
- Recognize and challenge attempts to blur the lines between the intelligence community and domestic law enforcement, as this erodes democratic safeguards.
- Understand that political motivations often drive seemingly unusual government actions, particularly when high-profile officials are involved in unexpected capacities.
- Support congressional oversight efforts to hold government officials accountable, especially when actions appear to politicize non-political agencies or undermine election integrity.
Notable Moments
Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanch's dismissive response to questions about Tulsi Gabbard's role, stating she 'happened to be present' and her presence 'shouldn't be questioned.'
This moment highlights the administration's apparent lack of transparency and willingness to downplay a significant breach of protocol, reinforcing the concerns about politicization and accountability.
Quotes
"There is a very bright line... between what they do and the borders of the United States. And the participation of a very high-profile... the director of national intelligence... in a bizarre law enforcement action is... a very very big deal."
"She's an extraordinarily important part of this administration. Um, this administration coordinates um everything we do um as a group. And so I think her presence shouldn't be um there shouldn't be questioned of course and that's that's a big part of her of her job."
"What the Trump administration does is they try to make us comfortable over time with outrageous things."
"We might just say, 'Hey, Tulsy, you can have a little bit more money if you're going after terrorists or spying on the Chinese or the Russians, but you get no more money for um performative MAGA make the president feel good about me theatrics.'"
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