Director of National Intelligence James Clapper resigns

Enlarge / James Clapper testifying to a House committee today in Washington DC. He said he has submitted his letter of resignation.

The nation's top intelligence official, who became a controversial figure in the wake of the Edward Snowden revelations about mass surveillance, has said he's stepping down. This morning, Director of National Intelligence James Clapper told the House Select Committee on Intelligence that he submitted his resignation letter, "which felt pretty good."

Clapper's resignation was not unexpected, but it does leave a key role for the new Trump Administration to fill.

Clapper had over 50 years of military and intelligence service. His office was created after the events of 9/11 to oversee 17 other intelligence agencies. Clapper had moved into the private sector, but he rejoined government service in September 2001. He became the fourth director of ODNI in 2010.