Trump taps Rep. John Ratcliffe to be the next director of national intelligence

Rep. John Ratcliffe will replace Dan Coats as President Trump’s director of national intelligence. Trump announced the change-up on Sunday, confirming reports from earlier in the day that the Texas Republican was a favorite to replace Coats at the position. "I am pleased to announce that highly respected Congressman John Ratcliffe of Texas will be nominated by me to be the Director of National Intelligence. A former U.S. Attorney, John will lead and inspire greatness for the Country he loves," Trump tweeted. "Dan Coats, the current Director, will be leaving office on August 15th. I would like to thank Dan for his great service to our Country. The Acting Director will be named shortly," Trump added.

Ratcliffe found favor with the president for his tough questioning of ex-special counsel Robert Mueller on Wednesday. Mueller appeared in front of Congress to testify on his report detailing the findings of a two-year investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election and allegations that the Trump campaign colluded with Russian agents. Ratcliffe peppered Mueller with questions surrounding the prosecutor’s decision to conclude that the president was not exonerated of potential collusion after Mueller’s investigation failed to find significant evidence to substantiate the allegation. "The special counsel's job, nowhere does it say that you were to conclusively determine Donald Trump's innocence or that the special counsel report should determine whether or not to exonerate him," Ratcliffe said, pointing out that Mueller’s judgment contradicts one of the foundations of the American legal system: that someone is presumed innocent until proven guilty. Ratcliffe had already been on the shortlist before Mueller’s testimony and had met with Trump days before the hearing to discuss replacing Coats, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-taps-rep-john-ratcliffe-to-be-the-next-director-of-national-intelligence

Ricardo Rossello's handpicked replacement to govern Puerto Rico doesn't want the job

Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello's pick to replace him after he leaves office next month does not want the job. Secretary of Justice Wanda Vázquez Garced has asked Rossello to designate a new replacement before he officially resigns as Puerto Rico's chief executive on August 2. Rossello tenured his resignation after messages he sent making offensive remarks leaked to the public.

Vázquez announced on Twitter that she is not interested in holding the governor's office and has requested that Rossello find a new replacement. Vázquez took over Puerto Rico’s justice department in 2017. Shortly afterward, "#WandaRenuncia," or #WandaResign, began trending on Twitter while critics accused her of slow-walking legal action against corrupt members of Puerto Rico's government. Rossello announced his resignation Wednesday and protesters in San Juan took to the streets again, this time to celebrate that they had forced Rossello out of office.

In the leaked messages, Rossello at times directed his ire toward U.S. officials tasked with overseeing Puerto Rico’s finances and other Puerto Rican officials. "Dear Oversight Board, Go F— Yourself," Rossello said in one message referring to the federal board responsible for monitoring how the island spends federal funds. In another chat, Rossello told another official that "you'd be doing me a grand favor" if he shot San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/ricardo-rossellos-handpicked-replacement-to-govern-puerto-rico-doesnt-want-the-job