Mark Warner says he'll vote against Trump pick Jay Clayton as DNI

Washington — Democratic Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said Sunday that he'll ballot against President Trump's nominee Jay Clayton arsenic manager of nationalist intelligence, citing disappointment successful his grounds astatine a confirmation proceeding past week contempt his erstwhile optimism astir the nominee.  

"I've known Jay for a agelong time. I similar Jay. I worked good with him erstwhile helium was astatine the SEC. But I was bitterly disappointed by his show successful beforehand of my committee," Warner said connected "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

Clayton, who was the well-regarded person of the U.S. Attorney's Office successful 1 of the highest-profile jurisdictions successful the country, was nominated by Mr. Trump to regenerate Tulsi Gabbard. Clayton appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee past week for his confirmation hearing. Warner, the apical Democrat connected the committee, said helium was disappointed successful Clayton's responses, "not conscionable from my questions, but from galore of my colleagues."

During the hearing, Clayton was repeatedly asked by Democrats astir the results of the 2020 election. And though Clayton acknowledged that erstwhile President Joe Biden was certified arsenic president, and said that helium is "not an predetermination denier," helium evaded questions astir who won the 2020 election.

Warner besides pointed to Clayton's effect erstwhile helium was asked astir Gabbard's beingness astatine an FBI hunt of an elections hub successful Fulton County, Georgia, earlier this year, saying helium was "acting similar helium didn't recognize what Gabbard had done."

"So I volition beryllium voting against Jay Clayton," Warner said. 

With a Republican bulk connected the panel, Warner noted that Clayton is inactive expected to beforehand retired of committee — the adjacent measurement earlier the information goes to the Senate floor. If helium advances retired of committee, helium is expected to beryllium confirmed fixed the GOP bulk successful the Senate. 

Warner added that with the arguable acting manager of nationalist quality Bill Pulte presently successful the role, "we're a small rock-in-a-hard-place here." 

"I cognize Jay Clayton volition astir apt get confirmed. I anticipation we spot the Jay Clayton that I person known and person worked with," Warner said. "The 1 happening I besides cognize is, the implicit catastrophe we person close present with the acting DNI, Bill Pulte, who has nary quality experience, who has thing but loyalty to Trump."

Warner pointed to Pulte's issuance of respective transgression referrals to the Justice Department alleging owe fraud by a fig of Mr. Trump's governmental foes, adding, "that is not the benignant of idiosyncratic we privation successful arsenic DNI."

Warner's comments travel aft helium had praised Mr. Trump's information of Clayton conscionable weeks ago. In an quality connected "Face the Nation" past month, Warner said, "We volition get Clayton, I hope, confirmed arsenic rapidly arsenic possible."