Ratcliffe edges closer to CIA confirmation with Democratic support: 5 takeaways
John Ratcliffe emerged largely unscathed from a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee that appeared to pave the way for him to serve as the next director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).
Ratcliffe experienced a rough-and-tumble confirmation process to become the director of national intelligence (DNI) in 2020. But this go-around was much more cordial and bipartisan, with Democrats directing their ire at President-elect Trump’s more controversial nominees.
Wednesday’s hearing was wide-ranging and included back-and-forth exchanges with members on a number of topics, including intelligence gathering, threats the U.S. faces on a global scale and some of Ratcliffe’s actions as national intelligence director at the end of Trump’s first term.
But, all in all, Ratcliffe appears to be in as good of a spot as any of Trump’s nominees.
Here are five takeaways from his hearing.
Ratcliffe pledges to keep the CIA apolitical
Ratcliffe at multiple points in the hearing tried to calm Democratic concerns that the agency could become a political pawn on Trump’s chessboard, an effort that is seemingly working as Ratcliffe pushes not just for a confirmation, but one with bipartisan support.
Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), the committee’s vice chair, aired those worries during opening remarks and by asking Ratcliffe if he would resist efforts to force out or fire any CIA employees on the basis of political leanings.
The CIA nominee attempted to quell such concerns immediately, pointing to his tenure as national intelligence director and vowing that the CIA will maintain its apolitical nature.
“If you look at my record as DNI, that never took place. That’s never something that anyone has alleged, and it’s something that I would never do,” Ratcliffe said. “I would approach this position very much the same way and provide the same assurance.”
Ratcliffe also answered a series of questions from Sen. Angus King (I-Maine) related to the CIA’s independence and keeping political leanings out of........
© The Hill
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