Sen. Mark Warner, vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee, announced Sunday that he will not vote to confirm Jay Clayton, the U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, for the position of director of national intelligence. Warner cited Clayton's performance before the committee and his inability to answer questions regarding the outcome of the 2020 presidential election as reasons for his decision.
During a recent hearing, some Democratic members of the Senate Intelligence Committee repeatedly asked Clayton to identify the winner of the 2020 election. Clayton declined to name former President Joe Biden as the winner, stating only that Biden was "certified" as the victor.
Despite Warner's opposition, he anticipates that Clayton will ultimately be confirmed for the role. "I think Jay Clayton will get confirmed," Warner told ABC News. "And God willing, I hope the guy that becomes DNI is the guy that I've known and liked and worked with."
Clayton's confirmation is possible without Democratic support, as Republicans hold the majority in the Senate.