John Ratcliffe, Donald Trump's pick to lead the CIA, told members of the Senate that loyalty to Trump would not conflict with duties to follow intelligence leads.

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

The Senate intelligence committee holds 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.

Ratcliffe identified China as the U.S.'s greatest geopolitical rival as he testified before the Senate on Wednesday.

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.