Washington—Representative Eliot L. Engel, Chairman of the House Committee on Foreign Affairs, today made the following statement:

"Richard Grenell is the wrong man to oversee our country’s intelligence agencies. Leadership of the Intelligence Community demands someone of impeccable credentials, unimpeachable personal integrity, deep experience, and the unwavering courage to speak truth to power. Ambassador Grenell does not have these qualities and should not become Director of National Intelligence, especially in an unaccountable ‘acting’ capacity.

"If we’ve learned anything over the last three years of Donald Trump’s presidency, it is that there can be no good decision-making or real accountability without a solid foundation of fact and unbiased analysis. The selection of Richard Grenell, whose main appeal to this President are his political credentials and potential willingness to color intelligence to conform to Donald Trump’s skewed beliefs, will only push our country away from sound national security-making.

"I urge President Trump to nominate a permanent Director of National Intelligence, who can be confirmed by the Senate, and who is committed to delivering the best, unbiased intelligence possible, and not someone who will simply be a “yes man” and tell the President what he wants to hear."

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