Posted on 07/28/2019 12:58:04 PM PDT by jazusamo
President Trump is reportedly expected to nominate Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) to replace Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats.
Axios, citing three people familiar with the president's deliberations, reported on the development on Sunday. The news outlet noted that Trump was especially enthusiastic by Ratcliffe's questioning of former special counsel Robert Mueller during his congressional testimony last week.
Ratcliffe denounced some of the findings in Mueller's report during a House Judiciary Committee hearing, saying that it wasn't Mueller's job to "conclusively determine Donald Trump's innocence."
"I agree with Chairman Nadler this morning when he said Donald Trump is not above the law," Ratcliffe said. "But he damn sure should not be below the law which is where Volume II of this report puts him."
Advisers to the president told Axios that Trump had already been considering Ratcliffe for the position before Mueller's testimony. He had also reportedly been on Trump's short list to replace former Attorney General Jeff Sessions following his dismissal last November.
CNN reported last week that Ratcliffe has been under consideration for a job within the administration. Though the report did not specify which position. Advisers stressed to Axios that Trump could still change his mind about the decision.
Coats is expected to step down from his position in the coming days, people familiar with the decision told The New York Times.
The White House and the office of the Director of National Intelligence did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
Speculation has persisted in recent weeks on whether Coats would leave his position atop the intelligence community. Axios first reported earlier this month that Trump told confidants he was thinking about replacing him.
It was then followed by a report from Politico that Trump had met with Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) about potential replacements for Coats.
Coats at the time dismissed the reports about his potential exit, telling The Hill that the "rumors" were "frustrating."
Ratcliffe is a former federal prosecutor who has served in Congress since 2015. He has been repeatedly critical of how Democrats have responded to Mueller's report on his probe into Russian interference.
Ratcliffe's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.
UPDATED 2:38 p.m.
Awesome pick if true.
So was he going to lose his seat?
Now we’re getting somewhere.
Warning for those unprepared for this: Donald Trump can be mercy-less (while still following the Ten Commandments). Certainly against America haters and he can spot them.
John Ratcliffe is my Rep here in NE Texas. Hate to loose him, but we really need this type of true American to dig in the dirt and Destroy the Deep State. I would 100% support him for POTUS 2024.
Former Special Counsel Robert Mueller is unable to give Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) a single example—other than President Donald Trump—where a person investigated by the DOJ was not exonerated "because their innocense was not conclusively determined." pic.twitter.com/1hem4UEUg8— The Epoch Times (@EpochTimes) July 24, 2019
You must loose him. Loosen?
Spelling nazi apology
It sounds like he is in a very safe district.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Texas%27s_4th_congressional_district
He would be perfect. He is one of my favorite Congress critters and Texas is sure to replace him with another good republican
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Maybe that person needs to be replaced as well...
I have a hunch we’re going to see both a new DNI an a new Director of the CIA.
Ratcliffe and Nunes...take your pick. At least a couple of picks from Congress have seemed to work out well for Trump: Pompeo for SOS (a gem) and Mulvaney as Chief of Staff (still acting...Trump apparently doesn’t like him coughing in the room).
Bump!
Throw in a new FBI director and I’d be really happy.
FABULOUS!!! COATES is a WASte,
Innocence was not conclusively determined
That sounds an awful like guilty until proven innocent.
Thus the CPUSA (I can no longer say Democrats) are looking for a kangaroo court. A show trial. Now who is Yezhov, Yagoda, and Beria?
“”””Throw in a new FBI director and I’d be really happy.”””
Throwing him in prison would be better.
Awesome pick if true.
I agree. He comes from a “good” part of Texas and I am so impressed with him.......God willing he’ll be the one....;)
That chi k at the CIA is ALSO a WASTE!
Throw in a new FBI director and I’d be really happy.
You and me both. I can’t stand Wray and he needs to go......like a year ago........grrrr
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