WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. — President-elect Donald Trump introduced that he’s nominating former Director of Nationwide Intelligence John Ratcliffe to steer the Central Intelligence Company.
A former Republican congressman from Texas, Ratcliffe served as director of nationwide intelligence for the ultimate yr and a half of Trump’s first time period, main the U.S. authorities’s spy companies in the course of the coronavirus pandemic. He’s a extra conventional choose for the function, which requires Senate affirmation, than some rumored loyalists pushed by a few of Trump’s supporters.
As intelligence director, he was criticized by Democrats for declassifying within the remaining days of the 2020 presidential election Russian intelligence alleging damaging details about Democrats in the course of the 2016 race regardless that he acknowledged it may not be true.
Ratcliffe’s visibility rose as he emerged in 2019 as an ardent defender of Trump in the course of the Home’s first impeachment proceedings towards him. He was a member of Trump’s impeachment advisory group and strenuously questioned witnesses in the course of the impeachment hearings.
After the Democratic-controlled Home voted to question Trump, Ratcliffe stated: “This is the thinnest, fastest and weakest impeachment our country has ever seen.” He additionally forcefully questioned former particular counsel Robert Mueller when he testified earlier than the Home Judiciary Committee about his investigation into Russian interference within the 2016 election.
“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump stated in a press release. “He will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans, while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH.”
