President Trump pressed Senate Republicans to delay confirmation of Jay Clayton
as director of national intelligence, disrupting leadership plans aimed at
preventing Trump ally Bill Pulte from serving as acting DNI. The Senate
Intelligence Committee canceled a hearing scheduled for Wednesday. Trump said
the nomination will not move forward until Jamie McDonald, his nominee to
replace Clayton as Manhattan U.S. attorney, is confirmed; Pulte will remain
acting DNI. Trump also said he will not approve restoration of an
intelligence-surveillance authorization that lapsed last week until the Senate
passes an election-rule reform bill, which failed earlier this month in the
Republican-controlled Senate. Both Republican and Democratic senators have said
Pulte, who oversees housing finance in the administration, lacks
national-security experience.
