AP, Washington :
President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the nation’s top spy chief says he’s strong enough to stand up to any political interference from those seeking intelligence to back national security policy decisions.
If confirmed, former GOP Sen. Dan Coats would sit squarely between the nation’s intelligence workers and President Donald Trump, who has disparaged them for past failures and their assessment that the Kremlin interfered in the election in the president’s favor. The Senate intelligence committee’s investigation into Russian activities, however, did not take center stage at Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.
While some senators asked Coats to pledge to provide intelligence to the panel so it can investigate, others asked about harsh interrogation techniques, government surveillance and whether he thinks his voice will be heard at the White House.
Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said he backs Coats, but said he worries that his likable and affable personality might hamper his ability to run the 2,000-employee Office of the Director of National Security, which oversees 16 other U.S. intelligence agencies.
“I want someone who is crusty and mean and tough because you’re riding herd on 17 intelligence agencies that always want to be going in different directions and you’re going to be reporting to a president who may or may not want to hear what you have to say,” King said.
Coats said he and Trump have discussed his potential role as principal intelligence adviser – one who often has to share unpleasant news with the commander in chief. If confirmed, Coats said he would provide Trump with the most accurate and objective intelligence possible.
The intelligence community is not supposed to make policy, Coats said. “Our job is not to influence intelligence in any way for political reasons. Our job is to present the truth to those who make policy decisions about where we go. I will not tolerate anything that falls short of that standard.”
President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the nation’s top spy chief says he’s strong enough to stand up to any political interference from those seeking intelligence to back national security policy decisions.
If confirmed, former GOP Sen. Dan Coats would sit squarely between the nation’s intelligence workers and President Donald Trump, who has disparaged them for past failures and their assessment that the Kremlin interfered in the election in the president’s favor. The Senate intelligence committee’s investigation into Russian activities, however, did not take center stage at Tuesday’s confirmation hearing.
While some senators asked Coats to pledge to provide intelligence to the panel so it can investigate, others asked about harsh interrogation techniques, government surveillance and whether he thinks his voice will be heard at the White House.
Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, said he backs Coats, but said he worries that his likable and affable personality might hamper his ability to run the 2,000-employee Office of the Director of National Security, which oversees 16 other U.S. intelligence agencies.
“I want someone who is crusty and mean and tough because you’re riding herd on 17 intelligence agencies that always want to be going in different directions and you’re going to be reporting to a president who may or may not want to hear what you have to say,” King said.
Coats said he and Trump have discussed his potential role as principal intelligence adviser – one who often has to share unpleasant news with the commander in chief. If confirmed, Coats said he would provide Trump with the most accurate and objective intelligence possible.
The intelligence community is not supposed to make policy, Coats said. “Our job is not to influence intelligence in any way for political reasons. Our job is to present the truth to those who make policy decisions about where we go. I will not tolerate anything that falls short of that standard.”
