Ratcliffe Takes Control Of CIA, Criticizes Brennan’s Leadership And Political Influence

John Ratcliffe, now officially leading the CIA following his confirmation and swearing-in by Vice President JD Vance, has wasted no time in addressing what he sees as a history of politicization within the agency. Speaking in his first interview as director, Ratcliffe sharply criticized former CIA Director John Brennan, calling his leadership a troubling period that undermined public trust in intelligence operations.

During his confirmation process, Ratcliffe made it clear that he intends to steer the agency away from political interference. He pointed to the handling of the Hunter Biden laptop story, where Brennan and other intelligence officials signed a letter dismissing the scandal as Russian disinformation. Ratcliffe argued that their actions misled the public and influenced the 2020 election.

Ratcliffe also took aim at the broader intelligence community, referencing what he described as politically motivated decisions that date back to the 2016 election. He cited declassified documents from his tenure as Director of National Intelligence that revealed the intelligence community knew of Hillary Clinton’s connection to the Steele Dossier but proceeded with investigations that fueled the Russia collusion narrative.

President Donald Trump recently revoked Brennan’s security clearance, along with several others who were involved in signing the laptop letter. Ratcliffe supported the move, arguing that officials should not retain access to classified materials after compromising the integrity of the intelligence community.

Under Ratcliffe’s leadership, the CIA is expected to move away from political distractions and focus on intelligence gathering and national security efforts. He emphasized that restoring the agency’s credibility is essential to regaining public confidence.

Looking forward, Ratcliffe stated that one of his top goals is to ensure intelligence operations prioritize national security without the influence of partisan interests.