Trump halts intel nominee confirmation hearing – localnewslive.com
WASHINGTON (Gray DC) – The Senate postponed a confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence nominee Jay Clayton on Wednesday after President Donald Trump urged lawmakers to delay it.
The president made the request to delay the confirmation hearing in an overnight Truth Social post, just hours before it was scheduled to begin at the Senate Intelligence Committee. Committee chair Tom Cotton said the president “directed” Clayton not to attend.
It’s regrettable that the president has directed Jay Clayton not to appear at his confirmation hearing today. Mr. Clayton is a patriot and a highly qualified nominee, as the president has said repeatedly. While today’s hearing is now unfortunately postponed, I look forward to…
Trump wrote in his post that he wanted to cancel the hearing, citing concerns about an apparent broken deal with Democrats and a lack of a replacement for Clayton’s current role as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Senate Democrats criticized Trump’s decision.
“Trump’s actions overnight make it clear he is undermining our national security,” said Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., vice chair of the Intelligence Committee, said the move was disruptive.
“What we’re witnessing today is an extraordinary display of dysfunction from a president who seems determined to turn America’s national security into a political bargaining chip,” Warner said.
The move also appeared to catch some members of the president’s own party off guard.
“I was surprised,” said Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine. “I’m concerned that this slows down the renewal of FISA.”
Concerned about the postponement impacting passage of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) also were expressed by some Republicans. The key intelligence law has already expired and getting it through the Senate may take longer now with Clayton’s postponement.
“Until we get a ODI, Director of National Intelligence confirmed, we don’t have 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. That makes up 60% of the president’s daily intelligence briefing,” said Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas.
Democrats have vowed to not approve the surveillance law if Acting Intel Director Bill Pulte is not removed. Pulte has generated bipartisan controversial because of his lack of national security experience. But with the Clayton confirmation delay, Pulte is on track to take on the temporary role on Friday.
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