Trump picks John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA in his second administration
Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas, previously served as director of national intelligence in Trump's first term.
President-elect Donald Trump named John Ratcliffe as his pick for CIA director in the next administration Tuesday.
Ratcliffe, a former congressman from Texas, was director of national intelligence in Trump's first term.
"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 statement Tuesday evening. "He will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans, while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH."
Ratcliffe, who was the U.S. representative for Texas’ 4th District from 2015 to 2020, was a controversial pick for director of national intelligence in Trump’s first term — so much so that the first attempt to install him, in 2019, failed.
Ratcliffe had been a federal prosecutor in Texas, and he boasted on his website about having “put terrorists in prison.” NBC News and other news organizations found no evidence that he had ever prosecuted a terrorism case. He also misrepresented his involvement in the U.S. v. Holy Land Foundation terrorism financing case, NBC News previously reported.
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