Key Republican Will Back Trump’s Pick for Spy Chief

Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC), the Republican chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, told CNN that he will back the nomination of Rep. John Ratcliffe (R-TX) to be the country’s next intelligence chief.

Asked what changed from last year when Ratcliffe was first nominated and GOP senators had concerns then, Burr said: “There was a different pathway in the Senate. I don’t think anybody has changed their opinion of John Ratcliffe. What changed is the pathway to get somebody confirmed. If Democrats want to vote against him and have Richard Grenell stay on as acting is fine with me.”