Jay Clayton, the US attorney for the southern district of New York and former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), faced Senate questioning on Wednesday, July 15, 2026, during his confirmation hearing to become the nation’s next director of national intelligence. Clayton refused to explicitly say that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, instead stating that Biden was “certified” as president.

Clayton also avoided answering questions about his previous claims regarding election integrity and whether a White House official requested that he subpoena a group of New York Times journalists as part of an alleged national security investigation.

If confirmed, Clayton would replace Bill Pulte, who was installed as acting director of national intelligence last month by former President Donald Trump. Pulte’s tenure has been controversial on Capitol Hill, with critics from both parties questioning his qualifications and expressing concern over his loyalty to Trump and his approach to punishing political opponents.

Clayton served as SEC chair during Trump’s first term and earned millions as a Wall Street attorney prior to his 2017 SEC appointment. On June 8, during a CNBC discussion about alleged fraud in California elections, Clayton said, “We’re doing an absolutely terrible job, and the American people are right to question it.” He also criticized California’s mail-voting laws, suggesting they created an “opportunity for fraud.” Trump has repeatedly called the 2020 elections “rigged” without presenting evidence.

Republicans on the Senate intelligence committee had initially sought to prevent Pulte from assuming the role by scheduling Clayton’s confirmation hearing last month. However, Trump directed Clayton not to appear on the hearing day, allowing Pulte to become acting director.

Sources