Donald Trump blocks Senate confirmation of intelligence chief nominee Jay Clayton

President Donald Trump ordered nominee Jay Clayton to skip his confirmation hearing, preventing the Senate from confirming him as director of the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. The move cleared the way for Bill Pulte, a presidential favorite, to assume the office in an acting capacity.

Republican senators expressed anger, with Senator Thom Tillis saying he was “damn frustrated” and Senator Tom Cotton describing the step as “regrettable.” The dispute comes weeks before the midterm elections, raising tension between the executive and legislative branches over the balance of power and pending legislation such as the renewal of Section 702 of the surveillance law.