Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, President Donald Trump’s pick to be the new director of national intelligence, will remain in Congress and not be nominated for the post, the commander-in-chief announced Friday.
“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,” Trump tweeted Friday afternoon.
“John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country,” he added.
The choice of Ratcliffe, 53, had come under significant scrutiny in recent days, with many former intelligence officials expressing concern that Trump’s pick might politicize the job.
Hours before the president announced him as the pick to be the new director of national intelligence on Sunday, Ratcliffe was on Fox News saying the Russia investigation may have been tainted by a criminal conspiracy, without offering any evidence.
Ratcliffe has little experience in national security or intelligence. In late July, The New York Times reported that the congressman had overstated parts of his résumé. Although his website says he “put terrorists in prison,” there is no evidence he ever prosecuted a terrorism case.
Ratcliffe had faced an uphill battle in winning confirmation from Congress. He received a lukewarm reception from members of the Senate Intelligence committee, including several Republicans.
Ratcliffe becomes the latest in a growing list of nominees the White House has pulled after their records drew sharp scrutiny. Trump’s pick for Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan withdrew his name in June over past reports of domestic violence his family was involved in. Herman Cain was dropped from consideration for the Federal Reserve Board in April over doubts he could win confirmation and questions about sexual harassment allegations.
As a result, Trump’s administration is full of acting officials in crucial roles, leading agencies such as Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The Department of Defense recently went nearly seven months without a permanent secretary.
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., expressed relief over the news. “Thank goodness,” he said in a statement. Rep. Ratcliffe never should have been considered in the first place. This is part of a pattern from President Trump: nomination on a whim without consultation or vetting, and then forced withdrawal when mess ensues…The next Director of National Intelligence must be someone who is nonpartisan, sees the world objectively and speaks truth to power.”
Just a day earlier, Trump had given no indication of any shift in his plans for the DNI slot. “Congressman Ratcliffe is an outstanding man and I’m sure that he’ll be able to do very well,” he told reporters Thursday, when asked if he had any concerns about Ratcliffe’s record. “I think he’s just outstanding. Highly respected by everybody that knows him.”
Trump said Friday that he would announce his new pick for the job “shortly.”
In the meantime, over the objections of senators and senior U.S. officials, the White House is planning to prevent the principal deputy DNI, Sue Gordon, from becoming acting director of national intelligence, according to one current and one former U.S. official familiar with the matter.
Gordon, a career intelligence official, has the backing of Sen. Richard Burr, the chairman of the Senate intelligence committee, Burr said in a statement. And Rod Rosenstein, the former deputy attorney general, tweeted in support of her today.
“Deputy DNI Sue Gordon is a proven patriot who understands foreign threats, respects the nonpartisan truth, and protects America 24/7,” Rosenstein tweeted. “Daughter of a Navy Vice Admiral, mother of 2 Marine captains. Gordon is a great @realDonaldTrump appointee!”
But Trump is not a fan of Gordon, several intelligence officials told NBC News. And when DNI Dan Coats departs, he plans to appoint his own choice in the acting role.
Federal law says that when the position of director of national intelligence becomes vacant, the deputy director “shall serve” as acting director. But experts say there are conflicting statutes, and that the president may have the latitude to appoint a different person who already has been confirmed by the Senate.
