Pelosi warns of Trump ‘surveillance’ ahead of midterms: ‘Don’t put anything past him’

WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Nancy Pelosi warned Democrats to brace for what she described as potential “surveillance by the intelligence operation” as the US headed toward the midterm elections, urging them not to underestimate President Donald Trump.

Pelosi made the remarks in an interview with MS NOW on Saturday, February 14, while attending the Munich Security Conference in Germany. She said concerns about the integrity of US elections were widespread, both at home and abroad.

“Surveillance by the intelligence operation of our country, surveillance in our own country, is something that is absolutely not to be allowed,” Pelosi said.

Nancy Pelosi says Tulsi Gabbard's role raises red flags

Pelosi said she was particularly alarmed by the involvement of Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard in a Federal Bureau of Investigation raid on a polling station in Fulton County to retrieve 2020 election ballots.

“For Tulsi to be looking into elections is really not right. It’s not lawful. It’s not right. But that doesn’t seem to ever bother the president,” Pelosi said. 

Pelosi added that Democrats were preparing legal and legislative responses, including court challenges and on-the-ground monitoring at polling places.

Nancy Pelosi urges Democrats to push back on voter ID

Pelosi also vowed that Democrats would fight the proposed voter ID requirements that Trump had promised to implement before the midterms. 

The House recently passed the 'SAVE Act,' which would mandate voter identification, with one Democrat joining Republicans. The bill now faces a difficult path in the Senate.

Despite her concerns, Pelosi told European leaders she had “absolute certainty” Democrats would win back control of the House of Representatives.

Nancy Pelosi says Trump could deploy ICE or National Guard 

Pelosi warned that Trump could attempt to influence the elections by deploying federal forces, including Immigration and Customs Enforcement or the National Guard.

“People are concerned they’re going to send in ICE and the National Guard or this or that,” she said. “Don’t put anything past him,” she added.

Citing the events of January 6, Pelosi argued that Trump had already shown a willingness to undermine democratic norms. “When the president of the United States personally incited an insurrection in our country,” she said, “he’s capable of any bad thing.”