Trump picks Jay Clayton for Director of National Intelligence
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Jay Clayton, US attorney for the Southern District of New York. Photo: Lloyd Mitchell/Bloomberg via Getty Images.
President Trump announced Thursday that he'll nominate Jay Clayton, the current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, as the permanent Director of National Intelligence.
Why it matters: Clayton would replace Trump's soon to be acting director Bill Pulte, who critics say doesn't have enough experience for the role.
What they're saying: "I am pleased to announce the Nomination of very Highly Respected Jay Clayton, former Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission... and the current United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York, to be the next Director of National Intelligence and, importantly, to serve in my Cabinet," Trump posted on Truth Social Thursday.
- "Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay. I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible."
Catch up quick: Trump said he would pick Pulte, who has no intelligence experience, to temporarily replace former DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in May.
- Pulte's willingness to investigate the president's political adversaries while serving as the Federal Housing Finance Agency director raised alarms he would weaponize the position.
- The move caused immediate backlash on Capitol Hill, with some top Republicans such as Senate Majority Leader John Thune balking.
The intrigue: Thune immediately endorsed Clayton on Thursday, telling reporters the attorney "has a great reputation as being an incredibly competent manager."
- He added that he'll try to get Clayton confirmed "as quickly as possible."
- Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the top Democrat on the committee that oversee the confirmation process, said the former SEC chair was "very qualified."
Between the lines: A bipartisan deal to renew a key government surveillance tool, the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, was blown up after Trump dug in on Pulte's nomination.
- The House rejected an extension 198-218 Thursday morning.
- "I have no idea why the president didn't nominate him yesterday," Warner said. "We could have found a path [to negotiate] and Director Gabbard could have stayed on until he was confirmed. Now the House is out of session."
Editor's note: This is a breaking news story and will be updated.
