The Senate Intelligence Committee has set a new date for Jay Clayton’s confirmation hearing to be the director of national intelligence. The panel will convene on July 15, nearly a month after the initial hearing was postponed.
President Donald Trump nominated Clayton, who is currently the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. The confirmation hearing was originally scheduled for June 17, but Trump requested its postponement due to disagreements with Democrats.
Trump insisted that Clayton’s nomination should wait until James McDonald, a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell and a former federal prosecutor, was confirmed to replace Clayton in New York. However, the White House has not yet forwarded McDonald’s nomination to the Senate.
The White House has not commented on Clayton’s new hearing date or expressed any objections regarding it. Previously, Trump criticized Republicans for advancing Clayton’s hearing rapidly, linking the delay to issues surrounding the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) and the vote on the SAVE America Act.
Several Democrats have expressed support for Clayton. Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., and Rep. Jim Himes, of Connecticut, praised his intelligence and dedication to public service, indicating his potential as a suitable director of national intelligence.
Clayton was appointed as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York last year after his Senate nomination faced delays. Previously, he served as chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term.
In early June, Trump appointed Bill Pulte as the acting national intelligence director, following Tulsi Gabbard’s resignation due to personal reasons. Pulte’s appointment has faced criticism from both Democrats and some Republicans due to his lack of national security experience.
Democrats have stated that renewing support for the expired FISA provision partially depends on Clayton assuming the role of national intelligence director, replacing Pulte.
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