Samuel Manas

U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, was first picked for the director of national intelligence post in July. Photo credit:  Gabriella Demczuk/Pool via REUTERS The Senate on Thursday confirmed U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, as director of national intelligence, elevating him to a cabinet-level position in the Trump administration and creating a vacancy for a congressional seat in Texas.

U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, testifies before the Senate Intelligence Committee on May 5, 2020. Photo credit:  Andrew Harnik/Pool via REUTERS The Senate Intelligence Committee moved in a party-line vote Tuesday to advance the nomination of U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Heath, for director of national intelligence. The move sends the nomination to the full Senate, which is expected to confirm Ratcliffe.

In his confirmation hearing Tuesday for director of national intelligence, U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, a Republican from Heath, gave two key guidelines for how he would carry out his job: One, he would always follow the law. Two, the information he would provide to the president, Congress and policymakers would be “unvarnished” and unaffected by improper outside influence. “I won’t shade the intelligence for anyone,” Ratcliffe said. “I will deliver the unvarnished truth. It won’t be shaded for anyone.