REPUBLICAN SENATORS OPENLY QUESTION BILL PULTE'S QUALIFICATIONS TO LEAD US INTELLIGENCE

Senior Republican senators have publicly questioned US President Donald Trump's decision to appoint Bill Pulte — a political ally with no intelligence background — as acting Director of National Intelligence, with Senate Majority Leader John Thune warning the White House that Pulte faces a lengthy confirmation battle.

Pulte, who currently heads the Federal Housing Finance Agency, would oversee eighteen spy agencies including the CIA and the National Security Agency, at a time when the United States remains at war with Iran.

Democrats and Republicans alike have raised concerns about Pulte's lack of national security experience.

Toni Waterman reports from Washington.

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Reporter Toni Waterman in Washington says Pulte has a controversial record of targeting the president's perceived enemies — and that the cases he has referred have largely fallen apart.

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Toni Waterman, reporting from Washington, says there are fears Pulte could use the intelligence agencies to advance what critics call the president's revenge agenda.

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