Wyden: Clayton’s Humiliating Hearing Proves Reform Is the Only Path Forward on FISA Section 702

July 16, 2026 Wyden: Clayton’s Humiliating Hearing Proves Reform Is the Only Path Forward on FISA Section 702 Washington, D.C. — Following the confirmation hearing for Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton, Sen. Ron Wyden, D-Ore., issued the following statement on the state of FISA Section 702: “Jay Clayton’s humiliating performance yesterday proved what I have said for months: the only path forward to renew Section 702 of FISA is reform. A man who will not even acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 election cannot be trusted to protect the American people from abuses of the most powerful surveillance apparatus the world has ever seen. Clayton wouldn’t stand up to Donald Trump if his life depended on it.” In his hearing on Wednesday, Clayton refused to answer basic questions about his role in subpoenaing three New York Times reporters, the pardon of a convicted cocaine trafficking kingpin, or why he has spread baseless conspiracy theories to try to undermine the legitimacy of U.S. elections. ### Print Email Tweet Previous Article