The Georgia congressman is waging a campaign against appointed Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler.
Rep. Doug Collins quickly shot down speculation that he would be nominated as the next director of national intelligence after President Donald Trump floated the Georgia Republican for the role of America’s spy chief, insisting Friday that he would instead continue his campaign for Senate.
“Wow, you know, it is humbling. I mean, it’s amazing for a trooper’s kid from north Georgia to have the president think that much of you — to mention my name among others to be [in] this position,” Collins told Fox Business, hours after Trump revealed Thursday night to reporters on Air Force One that he was considering the congressman for the post.
“But let me just tell you right now that I know the problems in our intelligence community, but this is not a job that interests me at this time,” Collins added. “It’s not one that I would accept because I’m running a Senate race down here in Georgia.”
Shortly after Collins’ interview, Trump tweeted Friday morning that he had narrowed his search for national intelligence director to “four great candidates,” and previewed that he would reach a final decision “within [the] next few weeks!”
Collins’ dismissal of the president’s suggestion comes after the White House on Wednesday tapped Richard Grenell, the U.S. ambassador to Germany and a staunch Trump loyalist, to take over for outgoing acting national intelligence director Joseph Maguire.
Trump’s move to elevate Grenell, who has not served in any U.S. intelligence agency, has alarmed critics who fear the president is seeking to politicize one of the most sensitive offices in the federal government and bend the intelligence community to his will.
The president’s proposal to install Collins as national intelligence director on a permanent basis was also likely to have elicited significant criticism — especially given that it is not the first time Trump has explored choosing a fierce congressional ally for the job.
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Doug Collins quickly shot down speculation that he would be nominated as the next director of national intelligence, insisting he would instead continue his campaign for Senate https://t.co/ELdmAhENhd pic.twitter.com/g34R6va38d
— POLITICO (@politico) February 21, 2020
This is child's play.
Don's not serious about draining the DEEPSTATESCUMSWAMP.
Carter Page for DNI or GTFO.https://t.co/hgBQOMZ1b8
— John Schindler (@20committee) February 21, 2020
Starting to think I should have dialed back that criticism of Ric Grennell, who is unqualified and generally awful, but at least he's not stupid. https://t.co/y97hfqPzhR
— Tom Nichols (@RadioFreeTom) February 21, 2020
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