Now confirmed as DNI, Jay Clayton is threat to press freedom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: New York, July 28, 2026 — U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton, President Donald Trump’s nominee for director of national intelligence, was confirmed in the role today. Not even three weeks ago, in his former position as the Department of Justice’s U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Clayton signed the now-withdrawn subpoenas seeking to force several New York Times reporters to reveal confidential sources, after they reported that the new Air Force One gifted to Trump by Qatar was deemed unsafe to fly the president. Clayton then appears to have lied to or misled Congress about the subpoenas, raising serious questions about his fitness for office. The following statement can be attributed to FPF Executive Director Trevor Timm: “It’s crystal clear that Clayton a…