Former SEC Chair Jay Clayton has been sworn in as the interim US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Clayton’s appointment follows the Senate leader of the Democratic Party utilizing a “blue slip” to block a vote confirming his position. President Donald Trump nominated Clayton for the role over five months ago, replacing Damian Williams, who was instrumental in high-profile crypto cases. Clayton stated that his top priorities include safeguarding public safety, ensuring financial system integrity, defending national security interests, and combating fraud, particularly targeting the elderly and vulnerable. The interim nature of Clayton’s appointment stemmed from Senator Chuck Schumer’s use of a blue slip to prevent his confirmation, allowing Clayton to serve for up to 120 days without Senate approval. Trump criticized Schumer’s move, highlighting Clayton’s bipartisan support and compliance with all requests. Clayton’s interim position will last until around August 20, making him the top law enforcement officer for New York’s Southern District. The district, located in the financial hub of the US, handles significant white-collar crime cases. Clayton, who served as SEC chair from 2017 to 2020, has shown positive views on crypto and blockchain technology, acknowledging the efficiency benefits of tokenization. Despite praising Bitcoin as a store of value, he did not approve Bitcoin exchange-traded products during his tenure. The first US Bitcoin investment product was approved under Gary Gensler, Clayton’s successor at the SEC.