politics
President nominates Manhattan prosecutor to lead intelligence agency after prior pick draws opposition
The president has nominated the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan to serve as director of national intelligence. The move follows controversy over an earlier acting appointment and a House vote that blocked a short-term extension of a surveillance program.
Jun 11, 5:02 PM·1m read1 source
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The president has nominated the top federal prosecutor in Manhattan to serve as director of national intelligence. The nomination comes after an earlier acting appointment drew opposition from lawmakers. The nominee previously chaired the Securities and Exchange Commission. The president posted on social media that the Senate should confirm the nominee quickly.
Earlier acting appointment The president had selected the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency to serve as acting director of national intelligence. That official had used the housing regulator position to open investigations into perceived political adversaries.
The House of Representatives rejected a short-term extension of a major warrantless surveillance program on Thursday. Democrats said they would not support even a temporary renewal without privacy reforms and a change to the acting appointment. The outgoing director of national intelligence is scheduled to leave the post.
