Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, was set to be grilled at a confirmation hearing on Wednesday that Republicans hoped would break the gridlock on an expired foreign spy program.But the president suddenly announced Republicans were “canceling” the hearing until the Senate allows Jamie McDonald to become the next U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. McDonald was tapped this week to replace Clayton, the current U.S. attorney for that district.“I don’t want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie is in place,” Trump said in a 3:54 a.m. post on Truth Social. “In the meantime, Bill Pulte will remain as the Acting Director of National Intelligence.”
It is not yet clear whether Clayton will show. Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AR), chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said that the hearing would continue as planned, unless “the president directs him not to appear or withdraws his nomination.” But his announcement scrambles the already tenuous path for Clayton and leaves a bipartisan deal to reauthorize Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act further in doubt.
Republicans wanted Clayton confirmed as soon as Thursday, a bid to block interim appointment Pulte from taking over on Friday. And their plan to fast-track his nomination could have done so if Democrats had been willing to cooperate.
