John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, is Donald Trump’s pick to lead the CIA on his vision for America’s premier spy agency He is a former federal prosecutor and conservative member of Congress representing a district in Texas. He was a fierce defender of Trump during his first impeachment proceedings in the House. Trump first tapped Ratcliffe to serve as director of national intelligence in 2019, but he quickly withdrew from consideration after lawmakers raised questions about his qualifications. He was ultimately confirmed by a sharply divided Senate after Trump resubmitted the nomination. […]

Originally Published: January 15, 2025 at 10:06 AM EST