Trump puts Jay Clayton's nomination for intel chief on hold

Évian-les-Bains, France — President Trump said on Wednesday that he's delaying Jay Clayton's nomination to lead the U.S. intelligence community in a bid to force Congress to act on a voter ID bill that currently lacks enough support for passage. Mr. Trump said in a lengthy post on his social media site that he will keep Bill Pulte, a top U.S. housing official, as acting director of national intelligence. Lawmakers in both parties had opposed Mr. Trump's nomination of Pulte, citing his apparent lack of experience in the intelligence field, which essentially forced the president to turn to Clayton. Clayton had been set to appear on Wednesday for a Senate confirmation hearing that was fast-tracked because of the lapse of a crucial surveillance program due to bipartisan anger over Mr. Trump's pick of Pulte. Democrats had said they wouldn't renew the expired surveillance programs until Mr. Trump withdrew Pulte's nomination. In the social media post, Mr. Trump accused Democrats of breaking a deal to renew the program after he nominated Clayton. Mr. Trump also said he doesn't want to take Clayton out of the U.S. attorney's office before his replacement, Jamie McDonald, is approved. And he added another condition: linking his approval of the surveillance program to the passage of a bill requiring people to show ID in order to vote. …