politics
Trump Links DNI Nominee Hearing to U.S. Attorney Confirmation and FISA Renewal
President Trump posted on Truth Social before 4 a.m. ET Wednesday that he was canceling Jay Clayton's Senate hearing for Director of National Intelligence and would not move the nomination forward until Jamie McDonald is confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
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m. ET Wednesday that he was canceling the Senate hearing for his Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton and would withhold the nomination until Jamie McDonald is confirmed as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Clayton currently serves as U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
McDonald is Trump's nominee to replace him in that position.
Cotton, R-Ark., initially posted that the hearing would proceed. Cotton later stated on X that the hearing was postponed after the president directed Clayton not to appear. Cotton said in the statement that he looked forward to proceeding with Clayton's confirmation in the near future. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said the president does not have authority to cancel a Senate hearing.
Trump also stated he would not approve renewal of FISA Section 702 without passage of the SAVE America Act, which requires proof of citizenship to vote. The intelligence community has described Section 702 as a tool to track potential terrorism. A Senate agreement to renew the program had been in place before Democrats withdrew support after Trump announced plans to install housing czar Bill Pulte as interim DNI.
Pulte lacks intelligence experience. Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said passage of the SAVE America Act should be required before FISA renewal. Sen. , noted the bill has not reached 50 votes in prior Senate tests.
