US intelligence nominee questioned over election and journalist subpoenas

US senators questioned Donald Trump's nominee for director of national intelligence on Wednesday about subpoenas he issued to journalists and about the 2020 election during a tense confirmation hearing.

Jay Clayton had been due to testify before the Senate Intelligence Committee last month, but Trump cancelled the hearing while trying to press Congress to support a voting restrictions bill. The delay left Bill Pulte, described in the source as a loyalist housing official with no intelligence background, serving as interim intelligence chief for weeks. During that time, Pulte reportedly fired dozens of intelligence officials.

Lawmakers repeatedly pressed Clayton to say who won the 2020 election. Clayton said several times that Joe Biden was certified as the winner, but avoided saying that Biden won. The questioning tested whether he would contradict Trump, who frequently repeats the false claim that he defeated Biden but was denied victory by massive fraud.

Clayton, the US attorney for the Southern District of New York, was also questioned about subpoenas he issued to New York Times journalists. The subpoenas sought their testimony before a grand jury after the newspaper reported on security concerns about a Qatar-donated aircraft on which Trump flew to Turkey.

Defending the move, Clayton said it was vital to avoid a large blind spot if national security interests were at stake. He also said he was confident that procedures to protect the First Amendment, press freedom and journalists from intimidation had been followed.

Clayton had been scheduled to testify on June 17, but Trump abruptly postponed the hearing in an unsuccessful effort to pressure Congress to pass the SAVE America Act. The bill would require photo ID to vote nationwide, proof of citizenship to register to vote and other measures.

Senator Tom Cotton said a vote on Clayton's nomination was expected next week. The source said Pulte could soon be replaced, which might help clear the way for extending a key intelligence-gathering program known as FISA Section 702. The program allows warrantless surveillance of foreigners overseas. It expired for the first time last month after Congress rejected a short-term extension, largely over Pulte's interim appointment.