President-elect Joe Biden is reportedly considering Maine Sen. Angus King to serve as his director of national intelligence.
King is one of two independents serving in the Senate, alongside Bernie Sanders of Vermont. He serves on the Senate Intelligence and Armed Services Committee and has been an outspoken critic of what he deems as the politicization of President Trump’s handling of the intelligence community by appointing loyalists.
“Senator King is a committed public servant with an abiding, independent Maine spirit and a deep knowledge of the intelligence community,” King’s Communications Director Matthew Felling said in a statement to Politico.
Felling added that King “has a long track record of advocating for a clear-eyed, fact-based IC, which operates free of political influence in order to best serve America’s national security interests.”
A representative for King confirmed that he is under consideration by the Biden transition team to the Portland Press Herald on Friday evening.
The senator has a background in cybersecurity policy, which could help him bring experience to fending off foreign interference operations and disinformation campaigns that have been on the rise in recent years.
King’s vocal opposition to the Trump administration’s approach to national security would also likely make him an attractive candidate for the role, given Biden’s differing vision on how to handle the threats facing the country.
In August, King was particularly critical of Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe’s decision to stop personally briefing members of Congress on election security issues and instead give written updates.
“The idea that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence would stop briefing Congress on foreign threats to our elections is an outrage, full stop,” King said at the time. “America’s election, indeed, our foundation of Democracy itself, is under threat as we face weaponized disinformation from global foes around the planet. To stifle and limit the American peoples’ awareness of this fact cannot be explained — or allowed.”
If King was confirmed to a position within the executive branch, Maine Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, would appoint his successor. A special election to fill the remainder of his term would occur in 2022, according to the Bangor Daily News.
The former vice president’s choice could depend on the future of the Senate. Democrats are still holding onto hopes of trying to flip the Senate after several Republican incumbents, considered vulnerable by election forecasters, held onto their seats and gave the GOP a strong chance of keeping its majority.
King has been a reliable vote for Democrats despite being an Independent.
Senate Republicans have a 50 to 48 advantage over Democrats. The final seats will be decided in two runoff elections in Georgia, set for Jan. 5.
