Clayton defends subpoenas of journalists in tense confirmation hearing

Clayton defends subpoenas of journalists in tense confirmation hearing.

As Jay Clayton took his seat before the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday, the scene was starkly different from 28 days ago. Back in June, just hours before Clayton's confirmation hearing for director of national intelligence was about to start, President Donald Trump abruptly ordered his nominee not to appear.

This time around, Clayton was very much in attendance, defending his views about voter fraud and his role in the subpoenas of New York Times reporters over the weekend. "I'm absolutely committed to and respect our First Amendment," said Clayton, adding he sought to "limit to the greatest extent possible any intrusion into the operation of the free press."

And Democrats on Wednesday asked pointed questions about the subpoenas, which Clayton authorized in his capacity as U.S. attorney after the Times journalists reported on security features of the new Qatari-gifted Air Force One. Clayton defended his actions, saying he followed the "protocols" in place for the Justice Department, but wouldn't specify whether he or anyone in his office spoke with the White House beforehand.

"This doesn't sound like the proper independent legal process that we would normally expect for issuance of a subpoena. The characteristics surrounding it seem rushed, aggressive, with an unnecessary urgency," Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y., said.

Democrats also pressed Clayton on how he would approach the topic of election security, as Trump prepares a Thursday night speech to the nation that is expected to touch on the president's continuing claims of widespread voter fraud. "I'm not an election denier," Clayton told ranking member Mark Warner, D-Va., while dodging a series of questions about who won the 2020 election. "Joe Biden was certified as the president of the United States." "We have substantial work to do in improving our electoral processes. It's part of national security, and I feel strongly about that," Clayton added.

Another blockbuster hearing was happening at the same time Wednesday morning, as the Senate Judiciary Committee considers Trump's nomination of Todd Blanche to be attorney general.

As multiple senators pressed Clayton on who won the 2020 election, Sen. Jon Ossoff, D-Ga., said Clayton was "not being honest and forthright" about the issue. "You refuse to answer a basic question about who won a presidential election, but you ask to lead America's intelligence community? Isn't it humiliating to be unable to answer this question, to have to indulge the president's delusions?" Ossoff asked.

Warner said he was "bitterly disappointed" with Clayton's responses about the 2020 election. "We tried umpteen different ways to give you the ability to just acknowledge that Joe Biden was the president," Warner said. "I've acknowledged, senator, that Joe Biden was president," Clayton said at the end of the hearing.