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Senate confirms Jay Clayton as Trump's next intelligence chief
CBS News • • nation
Key Points:
- The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence in a 51-47 party-line vote, replacing interim director Bill Pulte and potentially paving the way to reauthorize the lapsed Section 702 surveillance authority.
- Clayton, formerly the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, was praised initially by Democrats but faced criticism during his confirmation for not explicitly affirming Joe Biden's 2020 election victory, raising concerns about political pressure on intelligence leadership.
- Senate Majority Leader John Thune urged colleagues to stop blocking the reauthorization of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, while Sen. Mark Warner expressed hope Clayton would resist political influence in his new role.
- Despite Clayton's confirmation, the surveillance authority remains expired, with legislative delays expected due to Senate and House recesses extending into late August and mid-September.
