Bennet Statement on Voting Against the Confirmation of Jay Clayton as Director of National Intelligence

Jul 29, 2026 | Press Releases

Washington, D.C. - Colorado U.S. Senator Michael Bennet, a member of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, released the following statement after he voted not to approve President Trump's nomination of Jay Clayton to serve as the Director of National Intelligence:

"I'm concerned Jay Clayton lacks the independence necessary to successfully lead our intelligence community. While I recognize his prior public service, Clayton's repeated deference to the Trump White House - whether in indulging Trump's false claims about the integrity of our election system or the improper issuance of subpoenas to reporters who wrote a story that President Trump disliked - suggests his top priority will be placating Donald Trump. On that basis, I cannot support his nomination. I hope he will not follow in the footsteps of other nominees who have surrendered their personal reputations to curry favor with the President. Our national security depends on it."

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