Trump's intel chief pick withdraws from consideration

By Michael Hernandez

WASHINGTON (AA) - Texas congressman John Ratcliffe is withdrawing from consideration as the next director of national intelligence, he and U.S. President Donald Trump abruptly announced Friday.

In making the announcement on Twitter Trump bemoaned what he said was unfair treatment "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," Trump said. "John has therefore decided to stay in Congress where he has done such an outstanding job representing the people of Texas, and our Country."

A new nominee will be announced "shortly," Trump said.

Ratcliffe's nomination had come under bipartisan criticism over his lack of experience in the intelligence community. He made his name as one of Trump's fiercest defenders on Capitol Hill, clashing in spectacular fashion last week with former Special Counsel Robert Mueller during congressional testimony.

Ratcliffe said he "was humbled and honored that the President put his trust in me to lead our nation’s intelligence operations and remain convinced that when confirmed, I would have done so with the objectivity, fairness and integrity that our intelligence agencies need and deserve."

"However, I do not wish for a national security and intelligence debate surrounding my confirmation, however untrue, to become a purely political and partisan issue," he wrote on Twitter.

Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats will depart the position Aug. 15 after he submitted his resignation to Trump last week. He has held the post since March 2017.

Coats has been at odds with Trump throughout his tenure, clashing with the U.S. president over North Korea and Russia.

In July 2018, Coats publicly refuted Trump on Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election. He also told a Senate panel in January that North Korea was unlikely to give up its nuclear weapons capabilities despite Trump's talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.