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 Texas representative, a Republican, was confirmed in a 49-44 vote to be second permanent director.
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.
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.