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Senate Confirms Clayton as Intel Head 07/29 06:18
WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Senate has confirmed Jay Clayton to become head of
the nation's intelligence agencies, putting a permanent director in place weeks
after President Donald Trump sought to delay his nomination.
Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a
former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman, was confirmed 51-47 along
party lines. Republicans had initially hoped to confirm Clayton in June, but
Trump delayed his hearing in order to allow his temporary pick for the job,
Bill Pulte, to take over for several weeks after former director Tulsi Gabbard
resigned.
Senators from both parties have expressed concerns about Pulte, a former
housing regulator who had no intelligence experience. Pulte was in charge when
Trump delivered a speech from the White House earlier this month doubling down
on his false claims about the 2020 election, which he lost, and released
classified documents that he said were relevant to his arguments.
Democrats have also expressed concerns about Clayton, who lost bipartisan
support after a contentious hearing two weeks ago in which he repeatedly
refused to say that former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election.
Virginia Sen. Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate Intelligence
Committee, said at the end of the hearing that he was "bitterly disappointed"
in Clayton after initially praising his nomination.
Warner said he would oppose Clayton's nomination but acknowledged that
Democrats are "between a rock and a hard place" with Pulte in the job.
Trump praised Clayton after the vote, writing on social media: "Jay is
outstanding in every way, and will do a spectacular job as Director!"
Trump revisits false claims about 2020 election
The Democratic pushback on Clayton comes as Trump has made revisiting 2020 a
primary focus, repeatedly trying to cast doubt on that election and amplifying
debunked theories about Biden's win. Clayton said repeatedly at the hearing
that the election was "certified" for Biden, declining to say outright that the
Democrat won.
Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer said he thought Clayton's performance
was "abysmal," and that "makes it much less likely that he will get Democratic
votes."
Hours before the scheduled Senate vote on Clayton, Pulte released
intelligence community documents from 2020 that described China's capacity to
interfere in the American political process as well as vulnerabilities in the
election system.
The substance of the material was largely recycled and already known, but
its disclosure is part of the broader Trump administration effort to raise
concerns about the integrity of U.S. elections.
Clayton emphasized his experience
Pulte has also said he has presided over a downsizing of the national
intelligence office, which functions as a coordinating hub for the U.S.
government's intelligence agencies. He boasted on social media that with the
latest round of job cuts, the office is carrying out about a 30% staff
reduction from weeks ago. He has not offered details about those cuts, making
it hard to immediately corroborate the extent of any reductions.
Clayton did not mention Pulte in the confirmation hearing. But he emphasized
his own government and national security experience, attempting to assuage
senators in both parties.
"I saw firsthand how a strong national security apparatus depends on
decisive judgment, discipline, integrity, and effective communication and
cooperation across different branches of the government," Clayton said. "If
confirmed as Director of National Intelligence, I will commit to upholding
these principles every day."
Clayton also told senators that he had no involvement in Trump's speech
about the 2020 election.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who expressed
frustration last month when the hearing was delayed, said that Clayton has a
reputation for operating with "morality, decency and integrity" in his previous
positions.
"Jay Clayton is a highly qualified nominee with a deep experience combating
a wide range of national security threats," Cotton said.
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