Trump To Nominate Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe To Be New Director Of National Intelligence
(CBSDFW.COM) — President Donald Trump has officially announced that he will nominate Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe to be the new Director of National Intelligence.
Trump said that as a former U.S. attorney, John will "lead and inspire greatness for the country he loves."
Ratcliffe released a statement on his nomination where he said:
"I am deeply grateful to President Trump for the opportunity to lead our Nation's intelligence community and work on behalf of all the public servants who are tirelessly devoted to defending the security and safety of the United States. President Trump's call to serve in this role was not one I could ignore, and I am incredibly thankful to him for this great honor. I look forward to my new role with energy and focus.
It has been the privilege of my lifetime to be the voice for the people of the Fourth District of Texas over the past five years. I will take their wisdom and common sense with me in my new role, and I will always remember with pride my service to them, and all that we have accomplished together."
The current director, Dan Coats, will be leaving the office next month.
"I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country," Trump said.
Coats was confirmed as Trump's Director of National Intelligence in the spring of 2017, and he and Trump shared some disputes along the way.
However, Ratcliffe drew some attention from the president this week, when he questioned Robert Mueller during the former special counsel's hearings before the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees about his investigation of Russian election interference.
And while former Special Counsel Robert Mueller did not reach a determination that President Trump obstructed justice in the Russian investigation, that didn't stop Ratcliffe and others from grilling Mueller.
Coats is set to leave the position Aug. 15.