On July 15, 2026, Jay Clayton, the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, appeared before a congressional committee for a confirmation hearing for the position of Director of National Intelligence.
The hearing followed the president’s appointment of Clayton, a former chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission, to lead the nation's intelligence community.
The session occurred amid expectations that the president would release declassified documents alleging foreign interference in the 2020 election; Democrats sought to challenge Clayton on the outcome of that election.
Senator Jon Ossoff asked Clayton who won the 2020 election, to which Clayton responded that he would not address the question and instead emphasized his qualifications for the role.
Ossoff pressed further, inquiring about former DNI Tulsi Gabbard’s presence during the FBI raid on Fulton County election sites, but Clayton declined to comment on the matter.
Senator Mark Warner also questioned Clayton on the election result, to which Clayton reiterated that Joe Biden had been certified as president and highlighted the need for improvements to the electoral process.
Senator Angus King repeated the question about the 2020 winner, and Clayton again confirmed that Biden had been certified, insisting the hearing focus on his credentials.
Senator Mark Kelly posed a “gotcha” question asking why Biden was certified, to which Clayton explained that Biden had the most electoral votes and followed the established process, but the exchange ended without a definitive resolution.
Throughout the session, Clayton maintained focus on his professional background and the importance of national security, avoiding detailed discussion of election disputes.
