McConnell takes wait-and-see approach to intelligence nominee
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is joining many of his fellow Republicans in taking a wait-and-see approach to President Donald Trump's nominee for national intelligence director, Rep. John Ratcliffe, even as critics assail his lack of qualifications for the job.
Ratcliffe if confirmed would replace Dan Coats, a former Indiana senator who had broad support in Congress and had repeatedly clashed with Trump. McConnell's comments come as several of his GOP colleagues, including some members of the Senate intelligence committee that will vote on the nomination, have said they didn't know — or had never even heard of — the three-term congressman.
Oklahoma Sen. James Lankford, a Republican who is a former member of the committee, appeared more concerned, saying Tuesday that Ratcliffe will have"some catching up to do" in the role. He said Coats, who had spent decades in Washington, clearly had more experience.
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