Trump Withdraws His Nomination Of GOP Rep For Intelligence Dir. Amid Conflicts In Resume

Rep. John Ratcliffe (L), Donald Trump (R)

Donald Trump is reversing course on his nomination of Texas Congressman John Ratcliffe (R) for Director of National Intelligence after reports of alleged resume padding and questions about his lack of intelligence experience.

From the New York Times:

President Trump on Friday abruptly dropped his plan to nominate Representative John Ratcliffe, Republican of Texas, as the nation’s top intelligence official, following bipartisan questions about his qualifications and pushback over whether he had exaggerated his résumé.

Mr. Ratcliffe, an outspoken supporter of Mr. Trump, has come under intense scrutiny since the president declared Sunday on Twitter that the lawmaker was his pick to succeed Dan Coats, who is stepping down as director of national intelligence on Aug. 15. The selection generated scant enthusiasm among senators of both parties who would have been decided whether to confirm him.

Mr. Trump’s announcement that Mr. Ratcliffe would not be his nominee after all, also made on Twitter, spoke bitterly of the attention Mr. Ratcliffe’s claims about his experience as a federal prosecutor quickly received from the news media.

Trump has demonstrated a pattern of 'picking' nominees for appointments without any vetting other than liking the person. He told Yamiche Alcindor of PBS News that he lets the press do his vetting for him because it's "much cheaper."

Our great Republican Congressman John Ratcliffe is being treated very unfairly by the LameStream Media. Rather than going through months of slander and libel, I explained to John how miserable it would be for him and his family to deal with these people....

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2019

....John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country. I will be announcing my nomination for DNI shortly.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 2, 2019

BREAKING: President Trump says Rep. Ratcliffe, who he said he would nominate for director of national intelligence, has withdrawn from consideration.

Ratcliffe was facing questions about experience and qualifications for the role. pic.twitter.com/upGNq4CroN

— MSNBC (@MSNBC) August 2, 2019

My Q to Pres Trump: What does this withdrawal by Ratcliffe say about the White House vetting process? This is at least the 2nd time someone you announced as a leader of an agency has to withdraw.
Trump’s answer: The press does the vetting for me and it’s much cheaper that way.

— Yamiche Alcindor (@Yamiche) August 2, 2019