Amna Nawaz:
Let’s return now to Capitol Hill, where the U.S. House yesterday voted to limit President Trump from further military action in Iran.
One of the Republicans who voted for that resolution is Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania. He joins us now.
Congressman, it’s good to see you. Welcome back to the “News Hour.”
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA):
Thanks for having me.
Amna Nawaz:
So we reported earlier you were one of four House Republicans to vote for that Iran war powers bill. You did vote against it earlier in the year in March and in April. You changed your vote to yes in May and again last night.
So, why the change? Why support that now?
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
Yes, it’s very simple. It’s following the law.
The War Powers Act of 1973 has two essential requirements, 48-hour notification in advance and within 60 days of hostilities commencing approval by Congress. So, as soon as we hit that 60-day mark, every resolution that’s been brought to the floor, I have supported. It’s just a simple, basic matter of following the law.
Some people complain about the War Powers Act of 1973. There’s two choices. You follow the law or you change it. You can’t violate it. That’s not an option.
Amna Nawaz:
So you don’t seem to buy the president’s argument then that the clock had stopped when the cease-fire was declared.
But I’m sure you saw the president react to you and the other yes-votes. He called you bad Republicans and grandstanders. He said: “Why would you do” — rather, “Who would do such an unpatriotic thing?”
What’s your response to that?
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
Well, I think following the law is very patriotic.
And, listen, we get criticized all the time in this job. You can’t let that affect your focus. I report to no person or no party in Washington, D.C. I work for the people back home in Bucks and Montgomery Counties of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania’s First Congressional District.
They’re my bosses. I listen to them intently. And my job is to reflect their voice here on the House floor, and I’m going to continue to do that.
Amna Nawaz:
So this measure is specific to military action in Iran, but we have heard the president threaten to use military action in other places, like Cuba.
I’m just curious if you believe that the president needs congressional approval before any potential military action in Cuba.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
Yes, again, follow the law, right? We have a War Powers Act that spells this out.
By the way, unfortunately, many presidents that have preceded this one have violated it as well. I was not in Congress then. I am in Congress now, and I’m going to enforce the law now. Under President Obama, we had Libya. Under President Clinton, we had Bosnia and Kosovo. Under President George H.W. Bush, we had Panama.
What we have seen consistently is, the executive branch tends to take a view of the War Powers Act of 1973 that’s most deferential to Article II, to the executive branch. But we have three branches of government in this country. I work for the legislative branch. We have to be a separate independent constitutional check on the other branches of government, including the executive branch.
So it’s pretty basic for me, follow the law.
Amna Nawaz:
While I have you, I want to ask you as a member of the House Intelligence Committee as well.
We have heard the president say that he will name Bill Pulte as his new director of national intelligence to replace Tulsi Gabbard, though the president said today that it wouldn’t be on a permanent basis.
As you all know, Pulte is now head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, doesn’t seem to have any kind of intelligence background at all. So permanent or not, do you believe he’s qualified to serve in that role?
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
I do not, no.
Amna Nawaz:
So what do you make of the president’s plans to push ahead with this, even if it is on an acting basis? Does that worry you about the integrity of the job for the top intelligence official in the country?
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
Well, yes, of course. You always want somebody with a background in intelligence. I have been in the intelligence community for 15 years as an FBI agent prior to coming here, and now as the chairman of the CIA Subcommittee on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.
These are serious jobs. They require people with a background in the subject matter. We have a lot of issues, including FISA Section 702, that we’re debating right now that the director of national intelligence has a significant voice in. So, yes, you always want someone with a background.
I have spent my whole life in the I.C., so I think that I answer the question I think that he’s not qualified to do it. And the president appointed him, purportedly on an acting basis, so we will see who gets the nomination.
Amna Nawaz:
Do you believe there’s enough Republicans who’ve expressed similar concerns that the president could walk back putting Bill Pulte in that job?
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
In terms of nominating him?
Amna Nawaz:
Yes.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
Well, I don’t think he will get confirmed. I think that’s pretty clear.
Amna Nawaz:
So you have concerns about Bill Pulte.
What about Todd Blanche? Because we have now heard the president will actually nominate him to be officially the permanent attorney general. He’s been serving in an acting role. We reported earlier on some of the headwinds he might face in the confirmation process. Do you believe he should be confirmed in a permanent role?
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
I do not.
I have been at the tip of the spear on fighting back against this so-called anti-weaponization fund. I think it was a serious abuse of authority by the acting attorney general, so much so that I introduced the bipartisan bill with Tom Suozzi, my co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, to fix this instance.
But, moreover, we’re going to go back and actually get to the root of the 1956 Federal Judgment Act. The bill is that old. That has been significantly watered down in 1961 and 1963 and several points thereafter that really migrated a lot of authority away from Article I, Congress, and towards Article II and gave a ton of discretion to the attorney general, too much discretion, that allows it to be abused like it was now.
So we have got to fix that. But to answer your question, that really undermined my confidence in his judgment.
Amna Nawaz:
That’s Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick of Pennsylvania.
Congressman, so much more to talk about. We hope you will come back and join us again soon. Thank you for your time.
Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick:
You bet. Thanks.
