Mr. Clayton is a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and oversees the Department of Justice’s office in the Southern District of New York.
President Trump appoints Bill Pruitt as Director of National Intelligence
President Donald Trump has nominated Bill Pruitt, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to be his new acting director of national intelligence.
President Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton to be director of national intelligence in an effort to quell backlash over his choice of acting DNI, which met resistance in the Senate.
Mr. Clayton is a former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission and currently oversees the U.S. Department of Justice’s office in the Southern District of New York.
“Few people anywhere in the legal profession are more respected than Jay,” President Trump wrote in a social media post. “I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”
President Trump is seeking a replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who announced in May that she would step down as head of national intelligence. The president selected Bill Pruitt, 38, a close ally with no intelligence experience, to serve as acting DNI.
Pruitt runs the Federal Housing Finance Agency and has faced bipartisan criticism over his intelligence qualifications, with Democrats also raising concerns about how he used his low-profile housing job, saying he inappropriately pursued opponents of President Trump.
Mr. Prut’s choice complicates Mr. Trump’s efforts to update Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) said of President Trump’s wiretapping of Creighton, “Anything is better than Pelt.”
The DNI selection must be confirmed by the Senate. Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) praised Clayton.
“I think he has a reputation as an incredibly talented coach,” Thun said.
