In a party-line vote, the Senate confirmed Congressman John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) to the director of national intelligence role.
Thursday’s 49-44 vote was the closest that has ever been held on the position.
President Donald Trump nominated Ratcliffe last year but the congressman withdrew his nomination and the president nominated him again last February.
At the time, Trump wrote “I am pleased to announce the nomination of @RepRatcliffe (Congressman John Ratcliffe) to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Would have completed process earlier, but John wanted to wait until after IG Report was finished. John is an outstanding man of great talent!”
I am pleased to announce the nomination of @RepRatcliffe (Congressman John Ratcliffe) to be Director of National Intelligence (DNI). Would have completed process earlier, but John wanted to wait until after IG Report was finished. John is an outstanding man of great talent!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 28, 2020
Ratcliffe’s first nomination crumbled after reports that he exaggerated his resume, claiming that he tried a case that involved suspects pumping money into the terrorist group Hamas.
After those reports, Trump defended Ratcliffe on Twitter, saying, “Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media. Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people.”
He continued, “John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country.”
….John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country. I will be announcing my nomination for DNI shortly.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2019
Ratcliffe will oversee a massive network that includes 17 intelligence agencies.
During his hearings before the Senate, Ratcliffe tiptoed around whether he agrees with the assessment of the intelligence community and the Senate Intelligence Committee that the Russians worked to help Trump in the 2016 election.
Asked about those reports, Ratcliffe said, “I have no reason to dispute the committee’s findings. I will say, that I have no reason to dispute the committee that I serve on, HPCSI, the House Intelligence Committee’s finding which is a different perspective with regard to that one issue that you mentioned about a preference for a candidate.”