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| Director of National Intelligence nominee John Ratcliffe appears before Senate | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Rep. John Ratcliffe, President Trump’s pick to be the nation’s top intelligence official appeared before the Senate Intelligence Committee this morning, where he was expected to face pointed questions from Democrats about his qualifications and his willingness to provide candid intelligence free from political considerations. It is the first confirmation hearing to be held in the middle of the pandemic lockdown. | |
| The hearing comes as senior administration officials have been pressing spy agencies for evidence to back an unproven theory that a government lab in Wuhan, China, was the source of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of almost 70,000 Americans. | The hearing comes as senior administration officials have been pressing spy agencies for evidence to back an unproven theory that a government lab in Wuhan, China, was the source of the novel coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed the lives of almost 70,000 Americans. |
| The committee chairman, Sen. Richard Burr (R-N.C.), explained that in order to follow social-distancing rules, senators would come in and out of the hearing room as they ask questions, rather than gather together, as is customary. | |
| Ratcliffe’s original nomination last summer was withdrawn after only five days in the wake of criticism that the Texas Republican overstated his résumé and lacked the qualifications to serve as the nation’s top intelligence official. | Ratcliffe’s original nomination last summer was withdrawn after only five days in the wake of criticism that the Texas Republican overstated his résumé and lacked the qualifications to serve as the nation’s top intelligence official. |
| Since then, Ratcliffe has met with senators on the committee and made the case that he has the credentials to hold the job. Questions have persisted, however, about whether Ratcliffe hyped his record as a U.S. attorney, including a claim that he played a central role in a terrorism financing prosecution involving the Holy Land Foundation. | Since then, Ratcliffe has met with senators on the committee and made the case that he has the credentials to hold the job. Questions have persisted, however, about whether Ratcliffe hyped his record as a U.S. attorney, including a claim that he played a central role in a terrorism financing prosecution involving the Holy Land Foundation. |
| Senators have seen material “affirming his national security experience,” said a person familiar with Ratcliffe’s confirmation process who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the deliberations of lawmakers. Justice Department records reviewed by The Washington Post show Ratcliffe was assigned to 34 “matters” involving national security. | Senators have seen material “affirming his national security experience,” said a person familiar with Ratcliffe’s confirmation process who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the deliberations of lawmakers. Justice Department records reviewed by The Washington Post show Ratcliffe was assigned to 34 “matters” involving national security. |
| “Senators have had a chance to get to know him, both in person and through answers to extensive questionnaires,” the person said. “They’ve heard him talk about his experience in — and frankly preference for — his nonpartisan, apolitical roles” at the Justice Department. “That’s directly applicable to the role he’ll be stepping into” at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. | “Senators have had a chance to get to know him, both in person and through answers to extensive questionnaires,” the person said. “They’ve heard him talk about his experience in — and frankly preference for — his nonpartisan, apolitical roles” at the Justice Department. “That’s directly applicable to the role he’ll be stepping into” at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. |
| Democrats are expected to press Ratcliffe on his credentials and the way he’s presented them in the past. “While I am willing to give Mr. Ratcliffe the benefit of the doubt in the hearing,” Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a draft of his opening statement, portions of which were provided to The Post. “I don’t see what has changed since last summer, when the president decided not to proceed with this nomination over concerns regarding his inexperience, partisanship, and past statements that seemed to embellish his record.” | Democrats are expected to press Ratcliffe on his credentials and the way he’s presented them in the past. “While I am willing to give Mr. Ratcliffe the benefit of the doubt in the hearing,” Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Va.), vice chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said in a draft of his opening statement, portions of which were provided to The Post. “I don’t see what has changed since last summer, when the president decided not to proceed with this nomination over concerns regarding his inexperience, partisanship, and past statements that seemed to embellish his record.” |