Congressional hearing held during the extenuating circumstances of a pandemic. We have a sparse crowd and an expanded dais reflective of the committees adherence to guidelines put forward by the rules committee and attending physician. We thank our members and staff are there patience and understanding as we work through the logistics involved in holding this hearing, which is a critical part of the committees ongoing oversight of the Intelligence Community. Members will be joining us on a rotating basis throughout the morning. Again, this afternoon, as we move to close session. Their absence now is not a reflection of the importance they place on this matter. We have asked members to watch as much of the hearings as they can from their offices, only coming into the hearing room to ask questions. I would also like to thank the press corps for your accommodation of the restrictions we are placing as we seek to fulfill our requirements to hold this nomination hearing in an open setting, or at least as open as current circumstances allow. The media in the room today are representative for the Broader Media community, and i know that they will ensure quick, unvarnished dissemination of what is discussed in this hearing. While i am certain the atmosphere of this setting will feature prominently in media willage, i know the media be focused on the important intelligence oversight and Management Issues that are also going to be discussed. Finally, i want to thank the nominee, who has patiently waited for this hearing. I know hes ready to get to work, leading the Intelligence Community, which has continued to do its vital work under increasingly difficult conditions. These intelligence professionals follows and ears, developments we see in the headlines and threats most of us will never see, from terrorists who seek to do us harm to cyberattackers probing critical thosetructure and capitalizing on the Current Situation to steel Critical Research from defense contractors and professors. Countries around the world have locked down, but those threats have not stopped. Our Intelligence Community is always remains on watch, guarding a grateful if distracted nation. They deserve and the country needs the certainty of a permanent, senateconfirmed director of National Intelligence. After that extended introduction, i would like to formally welcome our witness, congressman john radcliffe, President Trumps nominee to be the next director of National Intelligence. Congratulations on your nomination. I wish i could also welcome your wife michelle and your daughters. I know they wanted to be here. But given our attempts to minimize the number of people in the hearing room, i send them my appreciation via cspan. I thank them for their willingness to go on this journey with you and for their support. Today, we will consider congressman ratcliffes qualifications and engage in thoughtful to liberation. The congressman has already provided written responses to more than 125 questions presented by committee members. Todays proceedings allow for further inperson discussions. Wasressman ratcliffe elected in november 2014 to the house of representatives from the Fourth District of texas and serves on the House Committee on intelligence, House Judiciary Committee and house ethics committee. Prior to service in congress, mr. Ratcliffe was partner at a law firm, and in the department of justice served as the First Assistant u. S. Attorney, as chief antiterrorism and National Security for the Eastern District of texas, then as interim u. S. Attorney for the Eastern District of texas. Ratcliffe also served as mayor of the city of heath, texas. He received undergraduate degree from notre dame, law degree from Southern Methodist university, asked to meet at a time of profound threat and challenge. Given your experience, we expect he will lead the Intelligence Community with integrity, serve as a forceful advocate for the professionals in the i. C. And ensure the intelligence enterprise operates lawfully, ethically and morally. I can assure you this committee will continue to conduct vigorous oversight over the Intelligence Community, its operations and activities. Well ask difficult and probing questions of you and your staff, and we expect honest, complete, timely responses. I want to thank you again for being here, for your years of service to the country, and i look forward to your testimony. Before i turn to the vice chairman, i take a moment to note the passing of our dear servedtom coburn, who with distinction in the house and senate and was a valuable member of this committee. He cared deeply for this committee and the men and women of the Intelligence Community and understood the mission of this committee. His advice and counsel and friendship will sorely be missed , which i utilized no less than a month and a half ago. Some may wonder why my face looks a little hairy. This is the only way i can think of doing a tribute to tom coburn, was to do what tom did when things were confusing and we lacked understanding as to what direction to go here. As most of us know, tom would come back and wouldnt shave for a month, two months, until things were squared away. I dont know if i will wait until things are squared away, but i will wait until toms Memorial Service to properly memorialize him. I recognize the vice chairman for any opening remarks. Thank you, mr. Chairman. It is good to see you, my colleagues. Let me start for a moment where you left off. As somebody who spent literally years and years with tom coburn on a weekly basis, with the illfated gang of six effort, i got to know toms intelligence, nature, isirascible that the right word . Occasional pain in the whatever, but i share with you, he will be missed. , i would have joined you in that kind of tribute, but if you saw how bad any beard i tried to grow would look, im probably doing a better tribute by just saying. Its great to see you. I know these are normally supposedwhere we are to see the impression in the whites of your eyes. Im not sure i will be able to make that kind of judgment from here with my aging eyes. I get the general sense of you and i can see a little smile. If it turns to grimaces at times, we will no. But it is great to have you here, and i appreciate the opportunity i had to spend some quality time together last friday. Unfortunately, as the chairman has noted, i once again must note these are unprecedented times. America faces a challenge to our lives and security we have not had in over half a century, and it is during such trying times that we all recognize the value of nonpartisan expertise throughout our government. Nowhere is this clearer than in the apolitical Intelligence Community. The i. C. Collects intelligence on imminent and potential threats, analyzes them dispassionately and presents its best estimates, without fear or favor, to our nations leaders. This is essential, so policymakers can craft a timely, Effective Response to protect america. Nowhere is the need for leadershipapolitical clearer than the position of director of National Intelligence, who stands at the head of the nations 17 intelligence agencies. Unfortunately, what we have seen from the president ever since he came into office is an unrelenting and i believe undeserved attack upon our professional women and men of our intelligence agencies. Thi sis not because this is not because our Intelligence Community is deserving of these attacks, nor are they at the heart of some deep state conspiracy to undermine our political leaders. No. I believe the president attacks are intelligence agencies for one simple reason, because unvarnished truth and on embellished analysis are not welcome in this white house. What we have seen over the last year has been especially dangerous. The systematic firing of anyone at the odni who has the temerity to speak truth to power. Coats, Principal Deputy sue gordon, to acting dni admiral joe maguire, to acting director of National Counterterrorism russ travers, to the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community michael atkinson. These firings and forced departures from the leadership of the Intelligence Community have left the odni without a single senateconfirmed leader at the helm. Notead, an acting dni with experience in intelligence but with plenty of political loyalty to the president has been appointed to oversee americas intelligence enterprise. Individualni, this promptly instituted a hiring freeze and a reorganization whose purpose has not been communicated to the intelligence Oversight Committees. He also quickly fired Senior Leaders with decades of experience in the i. C. Alarmingly, we have begun to hear reports that intelligence professionals have been inappropriately questioned to limit the information they share with congress. The mr. Ratcliffe, president has nominated you to this critical position of National Security and intelligence leadership. Imve to say that while willing to give you the benefit of the doubt during this hearing, i dont see what has changed since last summer, when the president decided not to proceed with your nomination over concerns about your inexperience, partisanship, and past statements that seemed to embellish your record. This includes a some particularly damaging remarks about whistleblowers, which has long been a bipartisan cause on this committee. Ill speak plainly. I still have some of the same doubts now that i had back in august. Yourhave suggested that main qualification for confirmation to this post is that you are not ambassador grenell. Frankly, thats not enough. Before we put the senates stamp of approval and confirm a nominee to this critical position, senators must demand the qualities that the senate specified when it passed the law creating the odni after 9 11, legislation which my colleagues helps author. We must expect and demand professionalism, a nonpartisan commitment to the truth, and a rocksolid dedication to defending those who defend us every day. H the professional women and men of the intelligence bodies. I look forward to the questioning. I think the vicechairman thank the vicechairman. Former attorney general John Ashcroft was scheduled to be here to introduce representative ratcliffe, given current circumstances he could not attend. Theent us his remarks and senator has kindly agreed to represent attorney general ashcroft today. Senator cornyn, the floors years. Senator cornyn you, mr. Chairman. Always good to be with my colleagues on the Senate Select committee on intelligence and it is my pleasure to introduce John Ratcliffe, the nominee for director of National Intelligence. As the chairman said, we do have a letter from the former attorney general and it is rather lengthy. Im not going to read all of it i will refer to some excerpts. I ask for consent that it be made part of the record following my remarks. The reason why i think it is so important for the committee and the senate to hear from former attorney general ratcliffe excuse me, former attorney general ashcroft, is because of his intimate knowledge of the professional qualifications of the nominee, as well as the personal qualifications, his intelligence and his integrity. For highquality decisionmaking, sound intelligence must never be contaminated by personal bias or political predisposition. Ive known and worked with john for more than a decade. Person,f no person, no with a higher commitment to integrity and ive seen him speak the unvarnished truth to those he works with and works for, whether senior government officials or corporate ceos. He makes the important point and he did in my conversation with him yesterday on his farm in missouri, he makes the point that congressman ratliff has served in crucial roles as a developer and consumer of intelligence, a role i think his qualifications for the job. He said the John Ratcliffe is committed to forging the most insightful and accurate intelligence and counterintelligence possible. He will serve decisionmakers with fulsome transparent intelligence that enables them to make decisions to defend the nation to keep our citizens safe and free. Chairman, i know that coming to this nomination as a member of congress, that congressman ratliff as any member of ,ongress might, people wonder does he really understand the difference between being in the adversarial atmosphere that is congress and that especially speaks to our oversight responsibilities as somebody who has had the privilege of serving in all three branches of asernment, as judge, attorney general, John Ratcliffe has the personal integrity and intelligence to be able to understand the difference between being a legislator and being the director of National Intelligence. These are simply different roles to be played while discharging government responsibilities. I think that is something you might want to ask him more about , something i hope you will address, but ive known him personally for 10 years and im proud to support his nomination and to give you my strongest personal recommendation. I do believe that as a former u. S. Attorney and is a current member of the House Intelligence Committee, he does understand the vast threats our country is facing and the challenges we face that lie ahead. We need to be able to count on a leader to operate free of personal or political motivation, serving only with the security and safety of the American People in mind and i believe John Ratcliffe is the person to do that job. He is prepared to continue the legacy of outstanding leadership we have come to expect and count to count on his ability to serve as a steadfast leader and advocate for the ic. Lligence of the mr. Chairman, ranking member, i appreciate your careful consideration of my friend and fellow texan, john rap left, and appreciate John Ratcliffe, and appreciate the opportunity to introduce them today. With that, congressman radcliffe, if you would rise and raise your right hand. Do you solemnly swear to give the committee the truth, the full truth, and nothing but the truth . Rep. Ratcliffe i do. Please be seated. Before we moved to your fivement, i will ask you standard question the committee poses to each nominee who appears before us. Do you agree to appear before the committee here and in other venues when invited . Rep. Ratcliffe yes. If confirmed, do you agree to send your officials when invited . Rep. Ratcliffe yes. Do you agree to provide documents or any other materials requested by the committee in order for it to carry out oversight and legislative responsibilities . Rep. Ratcliffe yes. Will you ensure that office and staff provide materials when requested . Rep. Ratcliffe yes. Inform thegree to committee to asbestos possible . Rather than only the chair and vice chair . Rep. Ratcliffe yes. I want to thank you very much. It is my intention to move to a Committee Vote as soon as possible. For planning purposes, any member who wishes to submit questions for the record after todays hearing, please do so quickly. Yourll now proceed to opening statement, after which i will recognize members by seniority for five minutes. Members will have the opportunity to ask followup questions in the blocks that are designated. Let me say for the purposes of members, we have 30 minute blocks, there is time allotted, there is not time for everybody to have five minutes. Of 30 minutes regardless of where we are, i will cut it off. Stop for the room at 12 00. The floor is yours, congressman. German burke, vice chairman, distant with members of the committee, im honored to appear before you to be the direct the president s nominee to be the next director of National Intelligence. Acknowledge the work of staff who helped get us here today. I appreciate their dedication in making today possible. I would also like to share a few thoughts on the challenging times we face today. The covid19 pandemic has cut short the lives of over 67,000 americans. It has sickened over one million americans. It has impacted everyone of us. My deepest sympathies are with those we have lost and i salute the efforts of those on the front lines, including the dedicated Intelligence Community professionals reporting for duty. Times andtruly trying your sacrifice will not be forgotten. I would like to begin by thanking President Trump for his Incredible Opportunity for me to and i wouldtion like to thank attorney general , im forever grateful for your faith in me. I would like to recognize and thank senator cornyn for his kind words and my fellow texans for their support. It has been the privilege of my life to represent the fourth can congressional district. There is no way i could be with you today without the encouragement and support of my family. I would like to recognize and thank my amazing w