President Trump delayed the nomination of Jay Clayton as the next director of national intelligence until James McDonald is approved as US attorney in an attempt to force Congress to pass his voter ID bill.
Clayton, who was set to testify at the hearing on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, had his confirmation fast-tracked after the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) lapsed on Friday.
The 59-year-old lawyer, serving as the current US Attorney for the Southern District, was tapped to replace Tulsi Gabbard, who resigned in May, as the head of the US intelligence community.
“Regarding the approval of our Great Patriot, Jay Clayton, we are cancelling the Senate Hearing RE: DNI today, and will not be going forward until (James) McDonald is approved to be US Attorney, “the 80-year-old president wrote on Truth Social Wednesday morning.
McDonald was nominated to succeed Clayton as the Manhattan US Attorney, a powerhouse role that impacts some of the most prominent terrorism cases across the country.
“I may not be able to get the extraordinary Sullivan & Cromwell Partner, Jamie, approved, and I don’t want to take Jay Clayton away from the great job he is doing until Jamie is in place,” Trump said.
Trump slammed the Democrats for breaking a deal that would have confirmed Clayton and passed FISA.
“The Republicans agreed with Dumocrats to remove very fair, and talented, William Pulte, from serving as Acting DNI in return for getting FISA approved by the Dumocrats,” Trump wrote.
“However, the Republicans moved so fast with the hearings of the Great Jay Clayton, current U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, that Pulte would be gone before the Dumocrats would vote on FISA. Now, the Dumocrats are saying they will vote against FISA — So, the Republicans wound up having fulfilled their commitment, but Dumocrats broke the Deal.”
Senators from both parties had opposed Trump’s pick of Pulte because of his apparent lack of experience in the intelligence field.
Trump announced Wednesday that he is appointing Bill Pulte as the acting Director of National Intelligence despite the bipartisan opposition.
Trump, who is in France to attend the G7 Summit, called for the Senate to confirm James McDonald as Clayton’s successor as Manhattan US Attorney before confirming Clayton.
Trump gave an additional addendum to his demands, saying he wouldn’t sign FISA until the SAVE America Act was attached.
“To add a slight bit of intrigue but, for the Good of the Nation, and the People of our Country, I will not approve FISA without THE SAVE AMERICA ACT going along with it,” he wrote.
The SAVE America Act includes a proof of citizenship requirement to vote and a slew of other conservative wish-list items.
With Post wires
The post Trump delays Jay Clayton’s nomination for intel director to try to push Congress on voting bill appeared first on New York Post.
