INTELLIGENCE/NATIONAL SECURITY/NOMINATIONS/TRUMP PEOPLE: “President Donald Trump said Friday [8-2-19] that Rep. John Ratcliffe is withdrawing his bid to become Director of National Intelligence, days after the president floated his name. The announcement comes after Democrats and some Republicans have raised questions about whether the Texas congressman exaggerated his work as federal prosecutor of terrorism cases. Others questioned Ratcliffe’s experience and whether he could give the president unvarnished advice on Russia given his strong partisan views…Trump announced Sunday [7-28-19] that Dan Coats, a former Indiana senator who has held the job since early 2017, would step down this month. Disagreements between Coats and Trump on Russia, North Korea and other matters have often spilled into public view. Ratcliffe had described himself as a ‘terrorism prosecutor,’ citing that as one of his key national security credentials.”
–John Fritze, David Jackson and Michael Collins, “Donald Trump: John Ratcliffe withdrawing his name to be Director of National Intelligence,” USA Today, August 2, 2019 4:15 pm