Graham Urges Trump to Advance Jay Clayton DNI Nomination as FISA Reauthorization Faces Senate Standoff
Updated
Updated · POLITICO · Jun 21
Graham Urges Trump to Advance Jay Clayton DNI Nomination as FISA Reauthorization Faces Senate Standoff
3 articles · Updated · POLITICO · Jun 21
Summary
Lindsey Graham said Donald Trump should let Jay Clayton testify and move toward confirmation as director of national intelligence, warning he "won't be fine much longer" if FISA is not renewed.
Trump last week asked Senate Republicans to pause Clayton's hearing after insisting he would not sign a FISA reauthorization unless Congress also passed stricter federal voting rules and a ban on transgender women in women's sports.
Graham said letting FISA lapse would be "playing with fire" during the war with Iran and argued the same warning applies to both Democrats and the Trump administration.
Mark Warner told Graham there are enough Democratic votes to pass FISA, undercutting Trump's stated concern that Democrats would not support renewal and prompting Graham to press again for Clayton's confirmation.
Clayton, now Manhattan's top federal prosecutor, is Graham's preferred permanent DNI even as acting DNI Pulte began the job Friday, leaving the nomination tied to a broader fight over surveillance powers and Trump's legislative demands.