John Ratcliffe confirmed as director of national intelligence on party-line vote
REP John Ratcliffe was confirmed by the Senate on Thursday as director of national intelligence.
The representative, a Republican, was confirmed in a 49-44 vote to be second permanent director.
have praised Ratcliffe, a strong supporter of Trump, while have been skeptical that he would serve with the independence they say is important for the job.
Ratcliffe tried to toss his reputation as a Trump loyalist at his confirmation hearing earlier this month, and insisted he would lead the nation’s intelligence agencies without partisan influence.
Ratcliffe replaces Dan Coats, a former Republican senator who was popular in — but who clashed with Trump in his two years in the job, and resigned in July 2019.
Richard Grenell, who is close to Trump, has been the acting director.
Shortly after Coats resigned, Ratcliffe was picked for the job of director, but withdrew after some Senate Republicans questioned his experience.
Trump nominated Ratcliffe against in February.
, Ratcliffe said he believed Russia interfered in the 2016 presidential election.
He also said he would communicate to Trump the intelligence community’s findings even if he knew Trump disagreed with them and might fire him — but Democrats weren't convinced.
The top Democrat on the panel, Sen Mark Warner, told Ratcliffe at the hearing that “I don’t see what has changed since last summer” when his nomination was withdrawn.
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Ratcliffe has sat on the House intelligence, judiciary, and ethics committees.
Last summer, when former Special Counsel Robert Mueller testified about the , he forcefully questioned Mueller.
Ratcliffe was also a member of Trump’s impeachment advisory team and aggressively questioned witnesses during the .