Ratcliffe tapped for Trump's impeachment team to help 'end this brazen political vendetta on behalf of the American people'

January 21, 2020 at 4:31 p.m. | Updated January 21, 2020 at 9:07 p.m.

by Gazette Staff

In this Wednesday, July 24, 2019 photo, Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, questions former special counsel Robert Mueller as he testifies to the House Intelligence Committee about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump announced Sunday, July 28 that he will nominate Rep. Ratcliffe to replace Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who is leaving his job next month.
In this Wednesday, July 24, 2019 photo, Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, a member of the House Intelligence Committee, questions former special counsel Robert Mueller as he testifies to the House Intelligence Committee about his investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump announced Sunday, July 28 that he will nominate Rep. Ratcliffe to replace Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats, who is leaving his job next month.

U.S. Rep. John Ratcliffe, R-Texas, has been appointed to serve on President Trump's impeachment team.

The announcement was made by the White House late Monday.

"I took an oath to defend the Constitution. This impeachment is an assault on due process. It's an assault on the separation of powers. It's unconstitutional. I'm grateful for the opportunity to make that clear to every American during the Senate trial," Ratcliffe tweeted.

Ratcliffe, of Heath, Texas, represents Texas' 4th Congressional District, which comprises several Northeast Texas counties including Bowie County.

He is one of eight U.S. representatives receiving the impeachment team appointment, according to the White House announcement released Monday.

"Throughout this process, these Members of Congress have provided guidance to the White House team, which was prohibited from participating in the proceedings concocted by Democrats in the House of Representatives. The President looks forward to their continued participation and is confident that the Members will help expeditiously end this brazen political vendetta on behalf of the American people," a statement issued by the White House on Monday reads.

Last year during the House's impeachment inquiry, Ratcliffe rose to prominence as on of Trump's fiercest defenders.

First elected to the House of Representatives in 2014, Ratcliffe won re-election in 2016 and 2018. He serves on the Judiciary Committee, Homeland Security Committee and Ethics Committee. He is also chairman of the Homeland Security Subcommittee on Cybersecurity and was named to the Task Force on Combating Terrorist and Foreign Fighter Travel.

Ratcliffe is a graduate of Notre Dame University and Dedman Law School at Southern Methodist University. He is married and has two daughters.

Other representatives on the "initial" list of Trump's team "working to ocmbat this hyper-partisan and baseless impeachment" include U.S. Reps. Doug Collins, R-Georgia; Mike Johnson, R-Louisiana; Jim Jordan, R-Ohio; Debbie Lesko, R-Arizona; Mark Meadows, R-North Carolina; Elise Stefanik, R-New York; and Lee Zeldin, R-New York.

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