John Ratcliffe emerged largely unscathed from a hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee that appeared to pave the way for him to serve as the next director of the Central Intelligence

The former Texas lawmaker and prosecutor was Trump's national intelligence director in his first term. He vowed to reject White House political pressure

Trump's pick to be CIA director promised in his confirmation hearing to hone in on setting strong intelligence collection priorities and "demanding relentless execution."

The former Texas congressman said the CIA needed to return to its core missions following criticism from Donald Trump the agency was politically biased.

Republicans and Democrats praised the former lawmaker and intelligence official, who vowed not to use political loyalty tests at the CIA.

Trump’s nominee for CIA director vowed a more muscular approach to stealing adversaries’ secrets and pledged not to politicize spy agency.

Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, is a former federal prosecutor and conservative member of Congress representing a district in Texas.

Tom Cotton, R-Ark., right, with Vice Chairman Sen. Mark Warner, D-Va., speak with John Ratcliffe, President-elect Donald Trump's choice to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency ...

CIA director nominee John Ratcliffe said Wednesday that American spies must stop foreign adversaries from winning the race for top tech, including through operations aimed at undercutting enemies’ supply chains.

The Senate on Thursday confirmed John Ratcliffe to lead the Central Intelligence Agency in overwhelming bipartisan fashion, making him the second member of President Trump’s national security team to be approved by the upper chamber.