On the recordJanuary 21, 2025
It is fine if the Democrats have legitimate concerns with this nominee or any other nominee. We had legitimate concerns with President Biden's nominees. Come down to the floor. Get it off your chest. You talk about a full and real debate for 2 days. I hate to disappoint the people watching here. You are probably seeing more debate than we will have on John Ratcliffe's nomination for the next 48 hours before we confirm him. That is what I predict. We could have debated this anytime today. We debated it for 2 months in the Intelligence Committee. The Senator from Virginia, the vice chair of the committee, worked diligently and promptly with me--his team with my team--to process this nomination so it would be ready for confirmation yesterday. On a bipartisan basis, 14 to 3--not many other nominees are going to come out of committee with that kind of vote. So I understand the Democrats are opposed to some of President Trump's nominees, and I understand they want to vote no, and I respect that. But should we be denying the country a Senate-confirmed CIA Director in such dangerous times for no good reason? Again, maybe Senator Murphy has more to say. I invite him to come down to the floor and speak again if there is a lot more to say. I predict, though, that once again this will be the longest debate we have about John Ratcliffe's nomination over the next 2 days.…





