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 Senate intelligence committee opened a confirmation hearing on Wednesday for President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be CIA director, John Ratcliffe, a former Republican lawmaker who was accused of using intelligence for political ends as the nation’s top spy during the incoming U.

John Ratcliffe, Trump’s choice for CIA director, promised senators he would not inject partisan politics into the spy agency’s work or impose political litmus tests on employees.

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

The Central Intelligence Agency must heighten its focus on the threats posed by China and expand the volume of intelligence that officers collect around the world, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice to lead the spy service told a Senate confirmation hearing.

Former U.S. Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe faces questions from lawmakers in bid to head the nation's Central Intelligence Agency.

John Ratcliffe, who served as director of national intelligence during Trump’s first term, says spy agency’s intelligence collection capability 'isn’t where it needs to be'