It's a "precarious day for our country," MS NOW's Nicolle Wallace said in her opening of "Deadline: White House" — because President Donald Trump got his chosen partisan loyalist in charge of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.
"Donald Trump'spersonal political attack dog,Bill Pulte, officially assum[es] the role of acting Director ofNational Intelligence today," said Wallace. "It's a job for which Pulte haszero qualifications except forhis unwavering loyalty toDonald Trump."
And already there are huge red flags showing, she noted, as Pulte — whom experts already warned was likely to try to use the office to interfere in the midterm elections on Trump's behalf — is planning a top-to-bottom housecleaning to install people who will help him do it.
"Pulte showed up at his new joba day early on Thursday afterasking for a list of everyemployee in the office so hecould assess whether to firethem," said Wallace, relying on new CNN reports. Specifically, he "iseyeing to cut hundreds of jobs ... and his appearance at the headquarters "caught staff off guard,including the outgoing director,Tulsi Gabbard, who was given abrief heads up on the visit," since Trump had previously said Friday would be his first day.
So far, Wallace said, Pulte's experience "includesserving as the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency,where he drummed up mortgage fraud cases against Trump'sperceived enemies." Meanwhile, even Republican lawmakers were so outraged over the appointment that Trump had to nominate federal prosecutor Jay Clayton for the permanent role instead. However, Trump delayed the hearing last minute to ensure Pulte would get at least some time in charge.
Trump, after all, has proven himself "if nothing else erratic," Wallace noted. And now Pulte is free to pursue his "plans to purge the office."