Trump’s Chief Spy Nominee Subpoenaed NYT Reporters, Led Epstein ‘Investigation’
Washington, D.C. — On Monday, a coalition of progressive and press freedom groups sent a letter urging leading Senate Democrats to oppose the nomination of Jay Clayton to be Director of National Intelligence. The groups—which include Demand Progress, Free Press Action, Reporters Without Borders, Freedom of the Press Foundation, the American Federation of Teachers and Indivisible—warned the senators that Clayton has a history of weaponizing the government to attack President Donald Trump’s enemies, including recently subpoenaing several New York Times reporters for reporting information that upset the administration. The Senate Select Committee on Intelligence is scheduled to hold a confirmation hearing for Clayton on Wednesday.
Trump’s previous DNI appointment, former Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte, raised broad concerns due to his lack of national security experience and his lead role instigating criminal investigations into Trump’s political enemies—including Fed Chair Jerome Powell, New York Attorney General Letitia James and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA). Like Pulte, Clayton has no national security experience and he also has a record of weaponizing the government on behalf of Trump. In addition to subpoenaing the Times journalists, Clayton was also tasked by former Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate Democrats’ connections to Jeffrey Epstein—a move that some legal experts believe was intended to delay the release of some of the Epstein files.
“Anyone who hides behind fabricated 'national security' claims to demand journalists expose confidential sources can't be trusted to lead America’s intelligence agencies,” said Caitlin Vogus, senior adviser to Freedom of the Press Foundation. “Senators should demand to know whether Clayton issued these outrageous subpoenas at the explicit behest of the White House, and whether he’d use similar tactics as DNI against journalists and whistleblowers who expose intelligence failures or abuses.”
"The names that have come from the White House to serve as DNI (both acting and permanent), reflect a clear intent to weaponize the surveillance apparatus to stifle political dissent,” said Amanda Beckham, government relations director for Free Press Action. “Clayton’s actions over the weekend—the issuing of subpoenas to New York Times reporters—are indicative of what kind of steward he will be over the immense surveillance powers of the Intelligence Community. While it’s shocking that some of the same members who were opposed to Pulte being appointed acting DNI have expressed support for Clayton’s nomination, the issue of weaponization of surveillance authorities is a systemic one. Congress needs to implement meaningful reforms to Section 702 and close the data broker loophole to meaningfully protect Americans from invasive government spying."
“Under no circumstances should Democrats hand Trump this major political win by confirming an unqualified nominee to be our national spymaster, especially one who has a documented record of following his orders to weaponize the government.” said Demand Progress Senior Policy Advisor Hajar Hammado. “The president has repeatedly demonstrated his eagerness to use our nation’s intelligence to attack his political enemies. Supporting Trump’s chosen pick for chief spy means handing him a massive victory that threatens Americans’ privacy and democracy itself.”