Trump names former intelligence chief John Ratcliffe to CIA director

WASHINGTON − President-elect Donald Trump designated his former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, to become director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Prior to being appointed by Trump, Ratcliffe served as a Republican House member from Texas. From his seats on the Judiciary and Intelligence committees, Ratcliffe was a strong defender of Trump’s. Some political observers viewed Ratcliffe as a contender to serve as the next attorney general.

“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest Intelligence positions,” Trump said in a Tuesday statement, which also included attacks against Hillary Clinton’s 2016 campaign and former intelligence officials over Hunter Biden’s now-infamous laptop.

The announcement comes as Trump fills out his Cabinet and other top posts in preparation for his second term, which begins Jan. 20.

Democrats accused Ratcliffe of politicizing his intelligence post by contradicting career civil servants about Russian election interference on Trump’s behalf. But he had assured senators at his confirmation hearing he wouldn’t “shade” intelligence assessments to fit the president’s views or policies.

Sign-up for Your Vote: Text with the USA TODAY elections team.

“I will deliver the unvarnished truth,” Ratcliffe said in May 2020.

Ratcliffe served as U.S. attorney for eastern Texas in 2007 and 2008. He served five years in the House before Trump named him director of national intelligence during his last year in office.

Trump first nominated Ratcliffe for the DNI job in 2019 to replace the retiring Dan Coats. But he withdrew after lawmakers from both parties questioned his qualifications for the sensitive post. Trump nominated Ratcliffe again in 2020, and that time the Senate confirmed him.