1. United States
2. Utah
3. Letter

I am writing to you today as a concerned constituent to formally express my strong opposition to the confirmation of Jay Clayton as the Director of National Intelligence. My opposition is rooted in his recent performance during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, where he demonstrated a troubling inability to provide forthright, honest answers to fundamental questions regarding the integrity of our democratic processes. The position of Director of National Intelligence requires an individual of the highest integrity and candor. This role is tasked with overseeing our nation’s most sensitive intelligence operations and providing objective, unfiltered analysis to the President and Congress. When a nominee refuses to acknowledge well-established facts—specifically regarding the 2020 presidential election—it raises severe concerns about their fitness for office. Public service demands accountability, and the refusal to answer direct, straightforward questions from members of Congress suggests a lack of the transparency and respect for democratic institutions that are vital for this position. During his hearing, Mr. Clayton’s dismissive characterization of legitimate congressional oversight as "theater" was, in my view, deeply unprofessional and disqualifying. If a nominee is unwilling to be honest and forthright with the legislative branch during their confirmation process, there is little reason to believe they will operate with the necessary transparency once confirmed. Our intelligence community relies on the trust of the American people, and that trust is undermined when those in leadership positions choose to evade basic questions rather than demonstrate the courage to uphold the truth. I urge you to vote against Mr. Clayton’s nomination. Our nation requires a Director of National Intelligence who is committed to the truth and who respects the essential role of congressional oversight in our system of checks and balances. We cannot afford to entrust the stewardship of our intelligence infrastructure to someone who avoids answering for their convictions or who treats the scrutiny of their qualifications with such open disdain.