WASHINGTON — President Trump has announced his pick to replace Tulsi Gabbard as the next director of national intelligence: Manhattan US Attorney Jay Clayton.
“Few people anywhere in the Legal Community are respected at the level of Jay,” Trump said on Truth Social Thursday.
“I encourage the United States Senate to confirm Jay as soon as possible.”
Clayton, a former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term, was nominated as lawmakers of both parties criticized the president for his appointment of federal housing regulator Bill Pulte to replace Gabbard on an acting basis.
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Gabbard will depart the Office of Director of National Intelligence next Friday to be with her husband, who was recently diagnosed with bone cancer.
Congress has balked at Pulte’s appointment and the House of Representatives voted down the reauthorization of the federal government’s foreign spying powers in protest Thursday morning.
That authority, Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, will expire at 11:59 p.m. Friday absent quick action by legislators.
Pulte, the Federal Housing Finance Agency director, brought forward criminal referrals for alleged mortgage fraud against the president’s political enemies to the Department of Justice.
Those targeted included New York Attorney General Letitia James, Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) and then-Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.).
Gabbard had also released investigative files alleging a “treasonous conspiracy” by Obama administration officials to accuse Trump of having the 2016 election handed to him through Russian interference.
