President Donald Trump said Thursday he will nominate Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York and a former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) chairman, to serve as director of national intelligence (DNI).
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Trump announced the pick on social media as Congress pressed him to name a permanent successor to outgoing DNI Tulsi Gabbard, who announced her resignation last month. Democrats and Republicans alike were displeased with Trump’s choice to name Bill Pulte, current head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, as acting director of the office, which coordinates 18 intelligence agencies.
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump wrote. “I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”
Clayton’s office participated in the release of the Epstein Files and has also been responsible for the prosecution of the former president of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, for drug trafficking.
