John Ratcliffe was sworn in as President Donald Trumps director of national intelligence on May 26, replacing acting Director Richard Grenell.
Ratcliffe, a Republican who was confirmed by the Senate last week on a 49-44 party-line vote, had served the U.S. Houses 4th Congressional District in Texas before being named to the intelligence position. The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) confirmed the swearing-in, which took place in Washington. Grenell swore Ratcliffe in at his new office, according to Fox News.
Ratcliffe is the sixth Senate-confirmed director of national intelligence in U.S. history. The position was created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks, and the director oversees 17 intelligence agencies, including the CIA and the National Security Agency.
Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who recently became acting Senate Intelligence chairman this week, said Ratcliffe understands the director of national intelligences “crucial role.”
Ratcliffe formerly served as a federal prosecutor.
He said being a U.S. attorney was the best job he ever had and loved that it was “an apolitical position.”
“I stood up always to represent the United States of America. Never one party or another. And I very much view that as this role for the DNI,” he said.
“I look forward to treating every member, Republican and Democrat, exactly the same way. And frankly being out of politics,” he added.
Trump originally nominated Ratcliffe for the position last year, but Ratcliffe withdrew his name after fierce opposition from senators, including some Republicans. Lawmakers who previously opposed the nominee threw their support behind him this time around, including Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine).
Grenell, who served as acting director of national intelligence for three months, had simultaneously served as U.S. ambassador to Germany; hes also leaving that post.
He earned accolades from some for
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