Jay Clayton, the former Securities and Exchange Commission chairman under President Donald Trump, is currently under consideration for the position of attorney general in the upcoming administration. Clayton, who received bipartisan approval in the Senate in 2017, served in his role until the end of Trump's term.
In 2020, Clayton found himself involved in a controversial situation surrounding the removal of the Manhattan US attorney, Geoffrey Berman. The incident sparked political debate when then-Attorney General William Barr attempted to oust Berman from his position overseeing sensitive investigations related to Trump. Berman initially resisted resigning and was eventually fired by Trump after Barr's announcement.
Clayton, who had agreed to take over Berman's role, claimed he was unaware that Berman's departure was not voluntary. Despite being nominated for the US attorney position, Clayton did not receive a Senate vote.
