Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, heads to the chamber before votes on the immigration enforcement funding package, at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, June 4, 2026. (J. Scott Applewhite/Associated Press)

Sen. Susan Collins voted Tuesday to confirm President’s Donald Trump choice to become the nation’s top intelligence official, drawing criticism from Democrats.

U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton was confirmed 51-47 with only Republican support in the Senate on Tuesday. He’ll now be charged with overseeing 18 federal agencies and advising the president.

The confirmation comes after Clayton drew opposition from Democrats for refusing to state the fact that Trump lost the 2020 presidential election and for his role for subpoenaing several journalists at The New York Times. The hearing raised questions from critics about whether he could remain independent of political influence.

Collins’ support is already being cited by Democrats as proof that she enables Trump’s agenda — and supports many of his Cabinet appointments — ahead of the consequential midterm elections.

Democrats need to pick up four seats to regain control of the Senate. And Collins is the only Republican senator running in a state won by Democrats in the 2024 presidential election. Her Democratic opponent is former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson.

Maine Democratic Party spokesperson Misha Linnehan criticized Collins for “rubber-stamping” Clayton, who refused during his confirmation hearing this month to acknowledge that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.

Clayton would only said that Biden was “certified” as the winner.

“Trump is installing radical, right-wing lackeys at every level of our government, and Susan Collins has been right there with him as she voted with Trump 96% of the time,” Linnehan said.

In a written statement, Collins noted that she co-authored the law after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks that created the intelligence director position and understands the “critical role” it plays in sharing information and coordinating efforts to identify and counter threats.

“The approaching 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks is a solemn reminder of what is at stake,” Collins said. “At his confirmation hearing, Mr. Clayton affirmed his commitment to upholding that mission. Mr. Clayton’s record of public service, leadership of major federal organizations, and testimony before the Intelligence Committee demonstrate that he is qualified to serve as Director of National Intelligence.”

A Collins spokesperson said that Clayton repeatedly denied being an election denier during his confirmation hearing. Collins has repeatedly acknowledged Biden’s 2020 win.

Free speech advocates, however, criticized Clayton’s confirmation, citing First Amendment concerns.

As the U.S. Attorney of Southern New York, Clayton earlier this year signed subpoenas seeking to force New York Times journalists to reveal two confidential sources. The sources provided the reporters with information about how Trump’s new Air Force One, gifted by the nation of Qatar, was not safe, forcing the president to change planes during a trip overseas. The subpoenas were eventually withdrawn.

The Freedom of the Press Foundation said Clayton “appears to have lied” to Congress by saying his office made reasonable attempts to gather the information from elsewhere before subpoenaing the Times reporters. The testimony raises “serious questions about his fitness for office,” the foundation said.

“If he’s willing to sign off on a violation of DOJ’s policies at Donald Trump’s request, what will he do now that he’s in charge of the intelligence community’s incredibly powerful surveillance apparatus?” Executive Director Trevor Timm said in a written statement.

Sen. Angus King, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats, also opposed Clayton’s nomination. He said in a written statement to the Portland Press Herald that the director of national intelligence is “one of the most important roles in the United States government.”

King said the nominee’s record leads him to conclude that Clayton “will not be able to deliver the facts free from political influence.”

“Mr. Clayton has not demonstrated he is capable of seeking and speaking the truth to power,” King said.

Both King and Collins serve on the Senate Intelligence Committee, which held a confirmation hearing on July 15.

During the hearing, Collins used much of her time to talk about how she helped author the legislation that created the post-9/11 position as a way to better share information among intelligence agencies.

Collins also expressed frustration about the slow implementation by both the Biden and Trump administrations of the Havana Act of 2021, which she co-authored with Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-N.Y.

That bill was intended to provide assistance and compensation for government officials with anomalous health issues, including severe headaches, dizziness and blurred vision. The cause of the symptoms is unknown, but officials serving in Havana were the first to report them.

Collins asked Clayton if he would continue to investigate the possible cause and provide intelligence that’s “objective, timely and independent of political considerations, based on all available sources.”

“Well, I’m not privy,” he said, “but I certainly plan to engage you and Sen. Gillibrand on the issue, and I’m happy to do so.”