World · 29 July 2026
Why did Democrats vote against Trump's spy chief?
Photo: Will Palmer (CC BY 2.0)
Because Clayton would not affirm that Biden won the 2020 election, Senate Democrats opposed his confirmation on Tuesday. The Senate confirmed Jay Clayton as director of national intelligence by 51 votes to 47, replacing Bill Pulte, a housing official with no intelligence background. Trump nominated Clayton, a former Manhattan US attorney, to break a six-week deadlock over renewing Section 702 surveillance powers.
Reported by CBS News · How we write briefs