Trump's DNI pick Jay Clayton locks horns with Democratic senator in fiery confirmation hearing clash

By Fox News · Fox News

President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the nation’s intelligence agencies appeared in front of the Senate Intelligence Committee on Wednesday for a relatively smooth hearing that quickly turned explosive just before it ended. U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, who currently serves in the Southern District of New York, was tapped by Trump to be the permanent nominee as the director of national intelligence (ODNI) after former DNI Tulsi Gabbard stepped down from the role last month. During the hearing, he was grilled by several Democratic senators to confirm who won the 2020 election, after Gabbard and her interim replacement, Bill Pulte, seemingly questioned the results, as Trump has done before. Most of the senators accepted Clayton's response — that former President Joe Biden received the most Electoral College votes and the election was certified constitution. But upstart Senator Jon Ossoff, D-Ga, the final committee member to ask Clayton questions, would not let the issue go. "Who won the 2020 election?" Ossoff asked. "You know, we're not — I'm not — I'm not going to do this with you," Clayton replied. "This is a job interview. We've established that you have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee," said Ossoff. "You do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee. Who won the 2020 election?" "Like I said, I'm not I'm not going to get into that with you," said Clayton. TRUMP'S DNI PICK WILL HAVE TO WAIT FOR HIS CONFIRMATION HEARING AFTER TRUTH SOCIAL BOMB "But you do have an obligation to be honest and forthright with the committee," said Ossoff. "Is anything that I just said not honest or forthright?" asked Clayton. "You're not being honest or forthright," Ossoff insisted, before repeating the question: "Who won the 2020 election?" "We can keep doing this," said Clayton. "Well, we're going to keep doing it because you're not being honest and forthright," said Ossoff. "I'm not going to engage in the theater," the DNI nominee sai…