I call on Senator Collins to publicly oppose the confirmation of Representative John Ratcliffe (R-Texas) as President Trump’s new Director of National Intelligence. That position was created upon the recommendation of the 9-11 Commission in an effort to better coordinate our intelligence services and provide a solid daily intelligence briefing to the President. It is essential that the Director have extensive experience in the intelligence field—as Sen. Mitch McConnell said: “the U.S. intelligence community works best when it is led by professionals who protect its work from political or analytical bias and who deliver unvarnished hard truths to political leaders in both the executive and legislative branches. Very often the news these briefings bring is unpleasant, but it is essential that we be confronted with the facts.”

Mr. Ratcliffe lacks the relevant experience to serve as director—in the one year he has served on the House Intelligence Committee he has persistently criticized the investigation of Russian interference in the 2018 elections. There is the decided probability that rather than serve to present facts (whether unpleasant or pleasing) to the political leaders he will instead lean on intelligence professionals to provide fictions which support predetermined opinions.

Senator Collins said that the Director should be someone “with the skill and integrity to bring all the members of the intelligence community together,” and it should be palpably clear to her that Mr. Radcliffe does not meet this expectation. Mainers are adept as distinguishing fish from fowl and we expect our Senator not to lose sight of the difference.

Bruce Hauptli,

Bath