Senate Advances Jay Clayton in 51-43 Vote for Intelligence Chief as Democrats Abandon Section 702 Deal
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jul 27
Senate Advances Jay Clayton in 51-43 Vote for Intelligence Chief as Democrats Abandon Section 702 Deal
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jul 27
Summary
A 51-43 party-line Senate vote on Monday moved Jay Clayton to the brink of confirmation as director of national intelligence, with a final vote possible as soon as Tuesday.
Clayton, the Manhattan federal prosecutor and former SEC chair, would replace acting DNI Bill Pulte, whose lack of national-security experience had already made Democrats eager for a permanent nominee.
Democrats still opposed Clayton after he declined at his confirmation hearing to say Joe Biden fairly won the 2020 election, reversing their June cooperation on a fast-track deal tied to renewing FISA Section 702.
That bargain has effectively collapsed after Trump accused Democrats of not honoring it, and with the House already in August recess, Senate action on Section 702 now appears likely to slip until September.