[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 96 (Thursday, May 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2565-S2566]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                    Nomination of John L. Ratcliffe

  On another matter, later today, the Senate will vote on whether to 
confirm Representative   John Ratcliffe to serve as the Director of 
National Intelligence, which oversees the 17 different intelligence 
agencies. It is one of the most important posts that this Chamber is 
asked to fill. It requires someone with unimpeachable integrity, deep 
experience, and the independence and backbone to speak truth to power. 
That is what DNIs, including the previous one, Dan Coats, did.
  Unfortunately, Mr. Ratcliffe doesn't even come close to meeting that 
high bar. Earlier this week, I had the opportunity to speak with 
Congressman Ratcliffe over the phone. I expressed my concerns that his 
history as a vocal defender of the President casts doubt on his 
qualifications and credibility
  I asked him to simply confirm the unequivocal conclusion of our 17 
intelligence agencies that Putin interfered in the 2016 elections to 
help President Trump. He could not confirm it.
  I asked him if he would commit to basic, specific steps to improve 
transparency and communications between DNI and Congress--for instance, 
that every 2 weeks the staffs of the Gang of 8 be briefed by the DNI on 
what is happening in terms of election interference, that immediately 
Congress be notified if Russia or another foreign country attempts to 
interfere in our election. I asked him to do that within 72 hours. In 
neither case would he commit. That is not the kind of DNI we need.
  So Congressman Ratcliffe did little to address my concerns about his 
nomination, and I will vehemently oppose his nomination today. More 
than ever, we need the right person to serve as DNI. Over the past few 
months we have watched President Trump try to short circuit nearly 
every measure of independence and accountability within the executive 
branch.
  By baselessly firing one inspector general after another, President 
Trump has shown he will not tolerate anyone

[[Page S2566]]

standing up to his personal political interests, right or wrong. This 
is a dangerous pattern that should send a shiver down the spine of 
anyone who believes in democracy and is particularly relevant to the 
intelligence community, which must be able to inform the President of 
difficult truths.
  Mr. Ratcliffe, unfortunately, has not demonstrated the qualities nor 
the independence that we should expect of the next leader of the 
intelligence community. I will vote no and encourage my colleagues on 
both sides of the aisle, for the sake of the independence and strength 
of our intelligence community, which has served us so well for decades, 
to join me in voting no.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.