Trump appoints former SEC chairman Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence
The official held the post of US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The appointment came following the deadlock in Congress
US President Donald Trump has announced his intention to appoint Jay Clayton, US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and former chairman of the SEC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, as Director of National Intelligence.
Trump announced the appointment on social media, under pressure from Congress to appoint a permanent replacement for Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month. ‘The Donald’ faced fierce opposition to his decision to appoint Bill Pulte, head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director.
A deadlock has emerged in Congress, with the Democrats stating that they would refuse to renew foreign intelligence powers unless Trump withdrew Pulte’s nomination and put forward a permanent candidate.
“Very few people in the legal world are held in such high regard as Jay,” Trump wrote on social media. “I urge the US Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”
As the US Attorney for Manhattan, Clayton heads the largest and most prestigious office within the Department of Justice, with a wide range of responsibilities spanning from terrorism and espionage cases to financial fraud and public corruption.
