Jay Clayton, a Trump appointee, was named interim U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York after Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer halted a confirmation vote.
Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton confirmed his appointment as interim U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, following a “blue slip” move by the Senate’s Democratic leader that blocked a confirmation vote.
The appointment comes just over five months after U.S. President Donald Trump nominated Clayton for the position. He succeeds Damian Williams, who was instrumental in securing the conviction of former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried and handling other major crypto-related cases.
On April 22, Clayton stated that his main priorities include safeguarding public safety, upholding the integrity of the U.S. financial system, protecting national security, and fighting fraud—especially schemes targeting the elderly and vulnerable populations.
Clayton’s appointment remains temporary due to Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer’s use of a blue slip on April 16, which blocked the confirmation process and prevented a formal Senate vote on his nomination.
Senators can use blue slips to oppose and block nominations for U.S. attorneys or district court judges within their home states.
Clayton can serve as interim U.S. attorney for a maximum of 120 days without Senate confirmation. Beyond that period, he must either be confirmed by the Senate or receive a temporary extension from the federal court in Manhattan.
In an April 17 post on Truth Social, Trump criticized Schumer’s action, noting that Clayton had bipartisan backing in the Senate and had fulfilled all requirements asked of him.
Clayton’s interim role is set to continue until approximately August 20. As interim U.S. attorney, he will serve as the chief law enforcement official for New York’s Southern District, which includes the counties of New York, Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Putnam, Orange, Dutchess, and Sullivan.
The Southern District of New York, the oldest federal court district in the United States, frequently oversees high-profile white-collar crime cases due to its position in the nation’s financial hub.
Clayton held the position of SEC chair from May 4, 2017, to December 23, 2020, during which he filed 56 enforcement actions against cryptocurrency companies.
In a December 2021 interview with CNBC, he expressed strong support for crypto, stating he’s a “huge believer in crypto technology” and highlighting the “immense efficiency benefits” tokenization brings to the financial system and beyond.
Clayton has recognized Bitcoin (BTC) as a significant store of value, though he did not approve any Bitcoin exchange-traded products while serving as SEC chair.
The first U.S. Bitcoin investment product received approval in 2021 during the tenure of former SEC Chair Gary Gensler.
