Democrats explore new ways to resurrect election security briefings

More than a dozen House Democrats are pushing leadership to use must-pass legislation this month as a cudgel to compel the intelligence community to resume election security briefings for Congress.

Eighteen Democratic lawmakers are calling on House leaders to include language in either a spending bill or the annual reauthorization of intelligence programs that would force the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) to reinstate regular election security briefings. Both measures are expected to receive floor votes in September.

“Congress should consider all remedies available to enforce regular intelligence briefings in advance of the elections, up to and including withholding of funds from the ODNI entirely,” the lawmakers, led by Reps. Mark PocanMark William PocanWisconsin takes center stage in Biden-Trump fight O’Rourke endorses Kennedy for Senate: ‘A champion for the values we’re most proud of’ Joe Kennedy is a great progressive choice for the Senate MORE (Wis.) and Gerry ConnollyGerald (Gerry) Edward ConnollyBad blood between Pelosi, Meadows complicates coronavirus talks Oversight subcommittee asks DeJoy to detail communications with Trump campaign Postmaster general says he’s pausing changes ‘until after the election’ MORE (Va.), wrote in a letter to Speaker Nancy PelosiNancy PelosiOn The Money: Mnuchin, Pelosi reach informal deal to avoid government shutdown | Trump eviction ban tests limits of CDC authority | Initial jobless claims hit 881,000; unadjusted claims tick up Mnuchin, Pelosi reach informal deal to avoid government shutdown Ending counterproductive, counterintuitive regulation MORE (D-Calif.) and House Majority Leader Steny HoyerSteny Hamilton HoyerDavid Cicilline launches bid for assistant Speaker House to tackle funding, marijuana in September Shutdown politics set to collide with coronavirus aid MORE (D-Md.).

Democrats are furious that Director of National Intelligence John RatcliffeJohn Lee RatcliffeRussia ‘amplifying’ concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election: report Top Democrats press Trump to sanction Russian individuals over 2020 election interference efforts Democrats demand answers on report DHS withheld Russian election interference intelligence MORE, a former House GOP lawmaker, decided just recently to do away with in-person briefings for members of Congress, saying the move was necessary to prevent leaks of classified information.

Democratic leaders have hinted at possible subpoenas or targeting ODNI funds but have not yet threatened to pursue either approach. 

Pelosi, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam SchiffAdam Bennett SchiffRussia ‘amplifying’ concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election: report Democrats demand answers on report DHS withheld Russian election interference intelligence Top House Democrats demand Ratcliffe hold previously scheduled election security briefings MORE (D-Calif.), and Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-Ind.), a top appropriator who oversees defense spending, warned in a letter this week that they would “consider the full range of tools available to compel compliance” if Ratcliffe didn’t reinstate the briefings.

A Pelosi spokesperson pointed to the Speaker’s previous missive to Ratcliffe on Tuesday when asked about the letter from Democrats calling for conditioning legislation to fund or authorize ODNI on the briefings.

Neither Pocan nor Connolly went as far as declaring they would oppose a stopgap government funding bill if it didn’t include provisions to resume the briefings.

But they argued that the funding should be an arrow in House Democrats’ quiver.

“The power we have as Congress is the power of the purse,” Pocan, a Congressional Progressive Caucus co-chair, told The Hill. “We need to push back as Congress to make sure that we’re having our ability to have the necessary oversight.”

Connolly suggested a proposal in which Ratcliffe’s office would be directly targeted while leaving intelligence-gathering programs intact.

“Given the fact that this defiance came directly out of ODNI, we need to respond. And one of the tools the Constitution explicitly, clearly, and unambiguously gives Congress is the power of the purse,” Connolly said.

Such a proposal is all but certain to be opposed by the Trump administration and congressional Republicans.

It’s also unlikely to be included in any government funding legislation now that Pelosi and Treasury Secretary Steven MnuchinSteven Terner MnuchinOn The Money: Mnuchin, Pelosi reach informal deal to avoid government shutdown | Trump eviction ban tests limits of CDC authority | Initial jobless claims hit 881,000; unadjusted claims tick up Hillicon Valley: Russia ‘amplifying’ concerns around mail-in voting to undermine election | Facebook and Twitter take steps to limit Trump remarks on voting | Facebook to block political ads ahead of election Mnuchin, Pelosi reach informal deal to avoid government shutdown MORE have informally agreed to a clean…