This decision appoints a permanent director to lead the country’s intelligence agencies at a time when the president revives unfounded claims of election fraud ahead of the midterm elections.
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The appointment of J. Clayton was confirmed by a Senate vote of 51 in favor and 47 against. All Senate Democrats voted against.
The former securities regulator and federal prosecutor replaces Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned last month, and takes over the intelligence community of 18 agencies shaken by leadership changes and staff reductions.
The appointment comes amid concerns that D. Trump is involving national security agencies in his efforts to revisit the 2020 elections and cast doubt on the integrity of future voting.
Earlier this month, D. Trump disclosed declassified intelligence information in a televised address from the White House, which he claimed proved Chinese interference, while again falsely asserting that the 2020 election was stolen from him.
J. Clayton takes over from acting National Intelligence Director Bill Pulte—a D. Trump loyalist lacking the necessary experience, whose brief tenure raised concerns among lawmakers from both parties.
B. Pulte used his other role as federal housing regulator to refer several of D. Trump’s political opponents for possible criminal prosecution and oversaw a large-scale reduction in staff at the National Intelligence Director’s office.
Hours before the vote on J. Clayton’s confirmation, B. Pulte boasted that the fifth round of layoffs in a few weeks would reduce the intelligence coordination agency’s staff by about 30 percent.
Asked if Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election
Democrats initially welcomed J. Clayton as a more conventional alternative to B. Pulte but turned away from him during confirmation hearings.
Repeatedly asked whether Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, J. Clayton only responded that J. Biden was “certified” as the winner.
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“I am not an election denier,” J. Clayton told senators, without directly answering the question.
Senate Intelligence Committee Vice Chairman Mark Warner said Democrats were “between a rock and a hard place” because they preferred J. Clayton over B. Pulte but were very concerned about his response.
This “shows that if the president wants intelligence agencies to fabricate something to justify interference in the midterm elections, J. Clayton will not have the backbone to resist him,” California Democratic Senator Adam Schiff told CNN.
Party leader in the upper chamber Chuck Schumer called J. Clayton’s performance during the hearings deplorable.
Republicans defended J. Clayton’s record as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) during D. Trump’s first term and, more recently, as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Senate Majority Leader Republican John Thune said J. Clayton’s experience fighting financial crimes and handling national security cases made him a proven leader during a time of increased threats.
His confirmation could also help renew negotiations on Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, which allows the U.S. government to collect information about foreigners’ communications abroad without an individual warrant.
Democrats opposed renewing these powers while B. Pulte was acting intelligence chief, citing fears of administrative abuse.
However, any extension is unlikely before September, as the House of Representatives has already begun its summer recess.
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