NEW TRUMP PICKS – AT 9:31 A.M. ET:  Official announcements have not been made, but all major news organizations are reporting these selections.  From Reuters:

U.S. President-elect Donald Trump has tapped three conservative loyalists and Army veterans to lead his national security and law enforcement teams, including Senator Jeff Sessions for attorney general and Representative Mike Pompeo as CIA director, a transition official said on Friday.

The official said retired Lieutenant General Mike Flynn was chosen as the president-elect's national security adviser, a position that does not require U.S. Senate confirmation.

All three men have accepted Trump's offer, and the announcements will be made formally later on Friday, according to the transition team member, who spoke on condition of anonymity.

Pompeo, 52, a third-term congressman from Kansas, was a surprise pick to lead the Central Intelligence Agency. He was on the House of Representatives intelligence and energy and commerce committees, as well as the committee investigating the 2012 attack on the U.S. diplomatic compound in Benghazi, Libya.

Pompeo has echoed Trump's criticism of the Iran nuclear deal. In a tweet on Thursday, Pompeo wrote: "I look forward to rolling back this disastrous deal with the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism."

Pompeo graduated first in his class from West Point and was a cavalry officer in Europe, according to his official biography. He graduated from Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the law review, and later founded an aerospace company that provided parts for commercial and military aircraft.

COMMENT:  We're going to withhold judgment on these nominees until the official announcements and until we can do more detailed research.  However, first impressions:  All three are highly qualified, but have controversial pasts.  Flynn is considered a master of intelligence.  However, he was fired from his post as head of the Defense Intelligence Agency in the Obama administration amidst charges that he was a poor manager and was abusive.  Reactions to his probable appointment by Trump have been mixed, especially among military officers. 

Mike Pompeo is a brilliant man and fine congressman.   He may be dogged by some controversial comments about Muslims and terrorism, but I can't see any real threat to confirmation as CIA director. 

The most controversial of the three potential appointees is Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who was the first senator to back Trump for president.  Sessions has been a capable, conservative senator, but an incident in his past may doom his nomination, if some Republicans in the Senate choose to abandon him.  In 1986 President Reagan nominated Sessions, at that time a U.S. attorney in Alabama, to the U.S. District Court, but his nomination failed to pass the Senate Judiciary Committee due to charges of racism and racist comments.  Ironically, Sessions went on to be elected to the Senate, and sits on that very committee today.  Past accusations of racism are sure to be brought up. 

It is almost unheard of for the Senate to reject one of its own for a Cabinet position, but it has happened.  The Senate, in 1989, rejected the nomination by newly elected President George H.W. Bush of former Texas Senator John Tower to be secretary of defense, over alcoholism and personality concerns.  Sessions may well have some problems, but he is a sitting senator, which may make potential opponents less likely to rise up against him.

Because of the controversies, none of these nominees raise Trump's stature, and the appointments of Sessions and Flynn are likely to be seen as reflecting loyalty to Trump himself.  Trump needs some stars.

November 18,  2016