Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton sworn in as interim US attorney for Manhattan
Jay Clayton has been appointed as the interim US Attorney for the Southern District of New York after a blue slip blocked his confirmation. This appointment follows President Trump's nomination over five months ago. Clayton replaces Damian Williams, known for prosecuting high-profile crypto cases, including former FTX CEO Sam Bankman-Fried. His priorities include public safety, financial system integrity, national security, and fraud prevention. Clayton can serve in this interim role for up to 120 days without Senate confirmation, requiring either a Senate vote or an extension afterward. Trump criticized the blocking move by Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, highlighting Clayton's bipartisan support. The Southern District of New York handles significant white-collar crime cases and is the oldest federal court district in the US. Clayton previously served as SEC chair from 2017 to 2020, bringing numerous cases against crypto firms and expressing support for crypto technology and Bitcoin.
