On Wednesday evening, President Donald Trump made a significant move by appointing Jay Clayton as the interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York. This decision came as Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer attempted to block Clayton’s nomination. Trump announced the appointment on Truth Social, bypassing the Senate confirmation process that Schumer had aimed to enforce.
In his announcement, Trump praised Clayton, highlighting his previous role as the Chair of the Securities and Exchange Commission during Trump’s first term. He expressed confidence in Clayton’s ability to lead, stating that he had earned respect from many.
Trump had initially proposed Clayton for the position in mid-November, claiming that he had received broad bipartisan support. However, after five months without confirmation, Schumer declared his intention to use the “blue slip” tradition to block Clayton and another nominee, Joseph Nocella Jr., for the Eastern District of New York. This tradition allows home-state senators to effectively veto judicial nominees they do not support.
In a statement, Schumer criticized Trump, accusing him of misusing the Justice Department and law enforcement for political purposes. He expressed deep concern over Trump’s intentions for these important roles and confirmed he would not support the nominees for New York U.S. Attorneys.
While the Republican-controlled Senate Judiciary Committee has the authority to proceed with the nominations despite Schumer’s opposition, Chairman Chuck Grassley indicated that the committee would likely respect the blue slip tradition.
Trump reaffirmed his commitment to securing full Senate confirmation for Clayton, who will serve as interim U.S. attorney while the nomination process continues. He emphasized the importance of strong leadership for the Southern District, which oversees critical areas such as financial markets and public safety for millions of New Yorkers and visitors.
This appointment highlights ongoing tensions between the Trump administration and Senate Democrats, particularly regarding judicial nominations and the influence of partisan politics in the confirmation process.