Dems reject Trump’s top spy pick after demanding replacement, leaving counter-terror tool in air

Senate Democrats rejected President Trump’s nominee for Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Jay Clayton despite earlier demands for a replacement. Republicans confirmed Clayton on a party-line vote, ending an interim appointment that had prompted Democratic concerns about misuse of intelligence agencies. The confirmation does not resolve partisan disputes over reauthorizing Section 702 of FISA, a critical counter-terror surveillance tool that expired in response to the prior acting DNI’s appointment.