Sen. Susan Collins Susan Margaret CollinsThe Hill's Campaign Report: Biden asks if public can trust vaccine from Trump ahead of Election Day | Oklahoma health officials raised red flags before Trump rally Gideon leads Collins by 12 points in Maine Senate race: poll Senate leaders quash talk of rank-and-file COVID-19 deal MORE (R-Maine), a key member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, on Tuesday said she does not know much about Rep. John Ratcliffe John Lee RatcliffeOvernight Defense: House to vote on military justice bill spurred by Vanessa Guillén death | Biden courts veterans after Trump's military controversies Intelligence chief says Congress will get some in-person election security briefings DOJ launches probe into Bolton book for possible classified information disclosures MORE (R-Texas), who has been selected by President Trump Donald John TrumpBarr criticizes DOJ in speech declaring all agency power 'is invested in the attorney general' Military leaders asked about using heat ray on protesters outside White House: report Powell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy MORE to serve as director of national intelligence (DNI) and has been accused of inflating his résumé.

Collins is a pivotal vote on Ratcliffe’s nomination, as Republicans control 10 seats on the Senate Intelligence panel while Democrats have nine. One Republican defection could bottle up the nominee in committee.

“I don’t know Congressman Ratcliffe. As the author of the 2004 law that created the director of national intelligence position, I obviously am very concerned about who the nominee is, the qualifications and the commitment to overseeing the intelligence community in order to provide the best quality intelligence,” she told reporters.

ADVERTISEMENT

“I look forward to his hearing and to raising these issues with him,” she added.

Ratcliffe’s name was floated over the summer as a replacement to former DNI Dan Coats Daniel (Dan) Ray CoatsThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by The Air Line Pilots Association - Trump, Biden renew push for Latino support Former Intel chief had 'deep suspicions' that Putin 'had something on Trump': book Overnight Defense: Woodward book causes new firestorm | Book says Trump lashed out at generals, told Woodward about secret weapons system | US withdrawing thousands of troops from Iraq MORE but was pulled back after bipartisan opposition.

Lawmakers at the time raised questions about his qualifications and allegations that he exaggerated his track record as a federal prosecutor working on terrorism cases.

Ratcliffe emerged again last Friday when Trump nominated him as a permanent replacement to acting DNI Richard Grenell, the former U.S. ambassador to Germany, who has come under fire himself for his lack of experience in intelligence matters.

Collins last week said Grenell did not have enough experience to head the nation's intelligence community, and Senate Democratic Leader Charles Schumer Chuck SchumerDemocrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise Pelosi, Schumer 'encouraged' by Trump call for bigger coronavirus relief package Schumer, Sanders call for Senate panel to address election security MORE (N.Y.) asked the Department of Justice to investigate Grenell's past work for foreign clients.

ADVERTISEMENT

Grenell would have had to step down from his post as acting DNI had Trump not nominated a permanent replacement by March 11. He will now be able to serve in the job at least another six months or until the Senate confirms a permanent successor.

Trump formally sent Ratcliffe's nomination to the Senate on Monday.

Ratcliffe ran into trouble last year when his name was circulated as a possible replacement for Coats. Critics questioned his level of experience and accused him of inflating his résumé.

He claimed in a 2015 press release that he had “convicted individuals” who funneled money to Hamas through a charitable organization, and his campaign claimed in February of 2016 that he had been appointed to prosecute “one of the nation’s largest terrorism financing cases.”

News organizations, however, could not find records of Ratcliffe’s participation in the trial, and an aide later told The New York Times that Ratcliffe had only investigated side issues related to an initial mistrial.

If Collins votes against Ratcliffe and all Democrats oppose his nomination, it would fail in committee by a 7-8 vote.

Senate Republican leaders don’t usually advance nominations that fail to pass in committee.

“I can’t imagine we’d take somebody up that wouldn’t come out of committee with a favorable vote,” said Senate Republican Whip John Thune John Randolph ThunePowell warns failure to reach COVID-19 deal could 'scar and damage' economy Senate Republicans signal openness to working with Biden Democrats scramble on COVID-19 relief amid division, Trump surprise MORE (S.D.) on Tuesday.

Updated at 12:17 p.m.