President-elect Donald Trump announced that John Ratcliffe will be his CIA director.
Ratcliffe, who was once considered for attorney general, is currently co-chair at the America First Policy Institute.
He served as the Director of National Intelligence from 2020 to 2021, a role that drew criticism for allegedly serving Trump's political needs.
During his tenure, Ratcliffe released unverified information about Russian influence in the 2016 election, which critics said was politically motivated.
Trump praised Ratcliffe's loyalty, highlighting his efforts to expose what he called "fake Russian collusion" and FBI abuses.
A CIA official assured a smooth transition.
Initially nominated in 2019, Ratcliffe withdrew due to questions about his resume and partisan record but was re-nominated in 2020 and confirmed by the Senate.
He stayed in the role through the 2020 election, telling Trump there was no evidence of foreign interference or widespread fraud.
Ratcliffe later testified about this to a federal grand jury.
John Ratcliffe represented Texas' 4th Congressional District from 2015 to 2020. During his tenure, he served on the House Intelligence, Judiciary, and Homeland Security Committees, gaining a reputation as a staunch defender of conservative values. Ratcliffe was particularly vocal during the impeachment proceedings against President Donald Trump, where he emerged as a key ally. His work in Congress also included efforts to strengthen national security and address immigration issues.
Ratcliffe graduated from SMU Law.
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