Jay Clayton: US President Donald Trump’s nominee for the country’s top intelligence post declined to say that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election during his Senate confirmation hearing.

When senators questioned Clayton about the 2020 vote, he said Joe Biden had been certified as president. However, he stopped short of stating that Donald Trump lost the election.

Clayton also told lawmakers, “I am not an election denier,” while responding to questions about the election’s outcome.

His remarks came during a Senate confirmation hearing to assess his nomination as the nation’s top intelligence official. The exchange highlighted continued political scrutiny over the 2020 presidential election.

Trump has repeatedly challenged the results of the 2020 election despite courts, state officials and previous certifications confirming Biden’s victory.

Clayton’s refusal to directly acknowledge the election result is likely to attract further attention as senators consider his nomination.