Jay Clayton: Trump pick has long legal résumé but few intelligence credentials

Former SEC chair, who has reportedly socialized and played golf with president, has questioned integrity of US elections

Days before he was nominated as director of national intelligence, Jay Clayton discussed the potential of fraud in California's elections, falsely saying the state's laws left open the opportunity for fraud".

Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District and the former chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, has a lengthy legal resume in the private and public sector and a track record of unequivocal support for Donald Trump and his agenda.

This article was amended on 11 June 2026 to clarify that Jay Clayton became US attorney for the southern district of New York in 2025. An earlier version misstated the timeline.