On Thursday, U.S. Senators generally expressed support for President Trump’s choice of Jay Clayton as the new director of national intelligence. However, some voiced criticism towards Trump for not making the appointment sooner.
Trump nominated Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, shortly after the House failed to pass a temporary extension of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA). Many Democrats opposed the interim nomination of Federal Housing Secretary Bill Pruitt for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Senate Majority Leader John Thune described Clayton as having an “excellent track record” and urged Democrats to back his confirmation.
“I think he’s a really good choice. He’s obviously, you know, quite capable and competent with a strong record. So I hope Democrats who are objective see it the same way,” Thune commented on Clayton.
Thune also indicated that the timing of the nomination could have been better if Congress aimed for bipartisan support on extending Section 702. “As usual, the timing could have been better. It would have been nice to have done this a few days ago. But, you know, it’s about making the best of the situation,” he said.
Despite the praise, some lawmakers expressed concerns over Clayton’s nomination, pointing to his lack of national security experience and fears he might use the role to target political opponents, thus complicating critical legislative actions.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer called for the resignation of Mr. Pruitt but didn’t comment on Clayton specifically, stating, “Pruitt has got to go. The DNI position is far too significant for him to remain.”
When asked if he supported Clayton, Schumer reiterated, “I support the removal of Pruitt, that’s clear.”
Senate Majority Whip John Barrasso expressed some optimism regarding Trump’s decision to nominate someone for the permanent director role, saying, “I am encouraged by the president’s choice.”
On the other hand, Democratic Senator Alex Padilla from California voiced significant concerns about the nomination. Clayton has overseen major criminal cases in the U.S., including high-profile prosecutions, but not much is known about his views on foreign policy and FISA-related matters.
Rep. Jim Himes, the leading Democrat on the House Intelligence Committee, noted that while he believes Clayton would be “fantastic” if confirmed, he criticized the timing of the nomination, suggesting “a lot of the pain could have been avoided” if it had been made earlier.
Moreover, Democratic Senator Mark Warner from Virginia acknowledged Clayton’s qualifications but also pointed out that Trump’s timing could’ve been better. “He’s very qualified. I don’t see why the president didn’t nominate him yesterday,” Warner mentioned.
Republican Senator James Lankford commended Clayton’s work as a prosecutor and pledged to support his confirmation, stating that Clayton is the “perfect choice” for the role. He cited Clayton’s extensive experience with serious international cases and his previous leadership as Chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, which he believes will be beneficial in restructuring the agency.
Senator Lindsey Graham from South Carolina also described Clayton as an “outstanding choice” for DNI.
