Jay Clayton, who has been selected by President Trump to serve as the next director of national intelligence, has spent the last 14 months as the U.S. attorney in Manhattan. Previously, he was Wall Street’s top enforcer during Mr. Trump’s first term.

Career Before U.S. Attorney

Clayton alternated between private law practice and government roles. He was a partner at Sullivan & Cromwell, a law firm in New York, before being appointed U.S. attorney.

As chairman of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Clayton’s tenure was characterized by a generally pro-business stance. However, his office was among the first to enforce actions involving crypto assets. Notably, it filed a case against Elon Musk over issues related to his use of Twitter, which Musk has since acquired and rebranded as X.

Significant Cases

The Southern District, known for pursuing international and national security-related cases, is currently prosecuting Nicolás Maduro. The former Venezuelan president was captured by U.S. military forces in January and faces charges of a cocaine importation conspiracy. Maduro has pleaded not guilty.

In another major case, Clayton’s office has filed charges against the commander of an Iran-backed militia. The charges involve plotting attacks on Jewish sites in the U.S., including a synagogue in New York, and organizing attacks in Europe as part of Iran’s retaliation campaign against the U.S. and Israel over recent conflicts.

Additionally, the Southern District is managing the federal case against Luigi Mangione, accused of assassinating UnitedHealthcare’s CEO in 2024. Clayton is recused from this case, with his deputy overseeing proceedings.