Trump Chooses His Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton to Lead SDNY

Jay Clayton's Background

On Friday, December 9, 2023, former Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairman Jay Clayton was nominated by President Trump to lead the Southern District of New York (SDNY), one of the most important federal prosecutor's offices in the country. Clayton, a Republican, served as SEC Chairman from 2017 to 2021.

Clayton is a controversial figure. Critics have accused him of being too close to Wall Street and of rolling back important investor protections. However, Clayton's supporters say he is a skilled lawyer and a fair and impartial prosecutor. They believe he will be a strong leader for the SDNY.

The SDNY

The SDNY is responsible for prosecuting federal crimes in the Southern District of New York, which includes Manhattan, the Bronx, Westchester County, and parts of Long Island. The office has a long history of prosecuting high-profile cases, including the insider trading case against Martha Stewart and the corruption case against former New York Governor Eliot Spitzer.

The SDNY is also responsible for overseeing the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller was appointed by the SDNY to lead the investigation.

Clayton's Nomination

Clayton's nomination to lead the SDNY has been met with mixed reactions. Some people have praised the nomination, saying that Clayton is a qualified and experienced prosecutor. Others have criticized the nomination, saying that Clayton is too close to Wall Street and that he will not be a fair and impartial prosecutor.

The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a hearing on Clayton's nomination in the coming weeks. If confirmed by the Senate, Clayton will replace Geoffrey Berman, who was fired by Trump in June 2020.