President Trump announced that former Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe will serve as Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

“From exposing fake Russian collusion to be a Clinton campaign operation, to catching the FBI’s abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court, John Ratcliffe has always been a warrior for Truth and Honesty with the American Public. When 51 intelligence officials were lying about Hunter Biden’s laptop, there was one, John Ratcliffe, telling the truth to the American People,” Trump said.

“For these and many other reasons, it was my great honor in 2020 to award John the National Security Medal, the nation’s highest honor for distinguished achievement in the field of Intelligence and National Security,” he continued.

“I look forward to John being the first person ever to serve in both of our Nation’s highest intelligence positions. He will be a fearless fighter for the Constitutional Rights of all Americans, while ensuring the Highest Levels of National Security, and PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH,” he added.

NEW: President Trump announces the nomination of @JohnRatcliffe as Director of the CIA. pic.twitter.com/RDjvlhyohl

— Trump War Room (@TrumpWarRoom) November 12, 2024

A closer look:

Per USA TODAY:

Ratcliffe served as U.S. attorney for eastern Texas in 2007 and 2008. He served five years in the House before Trump named him director of national intelligence during his last year in office.

Trump first nominated Ratcliffe for the DNI job in 2019 to replace the retiring Dan Coats. But he withdrew after lawmakers from both parties questioned his qualifications for the sensitive post. Trump nominated Ratcliffe again in 2020, and that time the Senate confirmed him.

Between Trump administrations, Ratcliffe has served as co-chairman of the Center for American Security, a think tank for security issues. The center is part of the America First Policy Institute, which served as an advocacy platform for numerous alumni of Trump’s first administration.

John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence in the first Trump administration, is President-elect Trump's pick for CIA director https://t.co/iUOMVRRLLG

— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) November 12, 2024

Trump picks ex-national intelligence honcho John Ratcliffe for CIA director https://t.co/2RXJFdnzmt pic.twitter.com/H3n8VlStsO

— New York Post (@nypost) November 12, 2024

The Hill reports:

Ratcliffe was a regular critic of the FBI and Justice Department before entering the intelligence community.

Trump’s nod to Ratcliffe’s position on foreign surveillance, governed by the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), comes after the then-lawmaker was a vocal critic of the Crossfire Hurricane investigation into Trump, including the FBI’s flawed process for securing a warrant to wiretap Carter Page.

On Tuesday, Trump credited Ratcliffe with “catching the FBI’s abuse of Civil Liberties at the FISA Court.”