‘Between a rock and a hard place’
Democrats had initially welcomed Clayton as a more conventional alternative to Pulte, but turned sharply against him during his confirmation hearing.
Repeatedly asked whether Democrat Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election, Clayton would say only that Biden had been “certified” as the winner.
“I’m not an election denier,” Clayton told senators, without directly answering the question.
Senate Intelligence Committee vice chair Mark Warner said Democrats were caught “between a rock and a hard place” because they preferred Clayton to Pulte but were deeply troubled by his response.
Chuck Schumer, the party’s leader in the upper chamber of Congress, called Clayton’s hearing performance “abysmal.”
Republicans defended Clayton’s record as chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term and, more recently, as US attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a Republican, said Clayton’s experience fighting financial crime and handling national security cases made him a proven leader at a time of heightened threats.
