An empty committee room defines Senate-White House relations

GOP breaks with Trump over surprise play to bench DNI nominee: ‘Colossal mistake’

President Trump on Wednesday barred Director of National Intelligence nominee Jay Clayton from showing up to his confirmation hearing just hours before an eager Senate was to fast-track his nomination.

An empty committee room defines Senate-White House relations

An empty Senate Intelligence Committee room summed up the mood Wednesday afternoon during what was supposed to be an easy step in Majority Leader John Thune’s plan to revive a lapsed surveillance authority. Instead, the key spy powers tool, the committee room and senators themselves were left in the dark after President Donald Trump directed the hearing’s witness — Jay Clayton, his pick to be director of national intelligence — not to appear.  “…