Cotton backs Jay Clayton’s qualification, urges separate track for DNI nomination and Section 702 debate

Senator Cotton said he supports moving Jay Clayton’s nomination toward confirmation but urged that work on FISA Section 702 continue on its own timetable.

When asked about President Trump’s decision to halt Clayton’s confirmation hearing shortly before it was to begin, Cotton said Clayton is "a patriot and highly qualified nominee" and that he had hoped to move the nomination quickly. Cotton said background checks and financial-clearance work had been completed and that he expected to confirm Clayton "in the near future."

Cotton said he had spoken with the acting director of national intelligence named in the transcript as "Bill Pulte" (the transcript also spells the name "Poulte" in other lines) and that the acting director understands there are reforms and "quick wins" to downsize a sprawling bureaucracy. He said those management reforms could proceed even if the Clayton hearing is delayed.

On intelligence authorities, Cotton defended FISA Section 702 as "one of the most important foreign intelligence tools that we have," saying it contributes to the President's Daily Brief, helps stop drug flows into the United States and aids in rescuing American troops in harm's way. He said Democrats' opposition to aspects of the DNI process should not jeopardize Section 702 and suggested separate tracks for the intelligence-collection authority and a nominee’s confirmation.

Cotton did not lay out specific legislative text changes to Section 702 in the interview and did not identify a timetable for Clayton's confirmation beyond saying he hopes to proceed "in the near future."