Progressive groups are
demanding that Democrats on the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence oppose Jay Clayton’s nomination as director of national intelligence, pointing to his role in an attempt to intimidate the New York Times over critical reporting on the Trump administration.
Some key Democrats, however, have so far not committed to opposing President Donald Trump’s nominee for the nation’s top intelligence job.
Clayton, who serves as the top federal prosecutor in the Southern District of New York,
signed the subpoenas
sent Friday that targeted New York Times journalists for their reporting on serious security flaws in the
Qatari-donated
Air Force One jet.
“It seems Jay Clayton is up to his eyeballs in sending intimidation subpoenas to reporters.”
Two Democrats on the intelligence committee did not indicate whether the subpoenas were a dealbreaker for Clayton’s nomination, which is set to be the subject of a Wednesday hearing.
Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., the vice chair of the committee, has not said whether he intends to vote in favor of Clayton’s nomination. He previously
praised
Clayton for having the “right temperament” when Trump tapped him, but has said he still wants to press the prosecutor about whether he will use the DNI post to pursue Trump’s 2020 election obsession.
Asked for comment about the subpoenas Tuesday, Warner said he anticipated that Clayton would be quizzed about the matter during his hearing.
“I think it’s important that we stand up for the independence of the press,” he said.
When asked by The Intercept whether the subpoenas were disqualifying for Clayton’s nomination, fellow intelligence committee member Sen. Mark Kelly, D-Ariz., said, “I’ve got questions about it.”
Are Jeffries and Schumer Getting Ready to Greenlight Domestic Spy Power for Trump?
The cautious position staked out by the Democrats stood in
sharp contrast to that
of Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., the committee’s longest serving me
… [more]
