Trump Picks John Ratcliffe for CIA Director

President Trump has chosen John Ratcliffe to lead the CIA, according to a recent announcement. Ratcliffe, a Texas conservative, was previously high up on the list for potential attorney general positions. He currently works at the America First Policy Institute, a think tank connected to Trump. Ratcliffe had a stint as director of national intelligence during Trump's first term, from 2020 to 2021. His time in the role sparked criticism, as some believed Trump was using the intelligence community for political gain. Ratcliffe released unverified information about Russia's influence in the 2016 election, despite objections from intelligence community members. Critics accused him of politicizing intelligence to aid Trump in the 2020 election. Despite the controversies, Ratcliffe stayed in his position through the 2020 election and transition. He personally informed Trump and his allies that there was no evidence of foreign election interference or widespread fraud. Years later, he was called to testify before a federal grand jury as part of a probe into the 2020 election's aftermath. This story is still developing and will be updated with new information.