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ByVivianSalamaand Deb Riechmann The Associated Press WASHINGTON CIAdirector Mike Pompeo said Thursday that the agency is providing President Donald Trump with the best intelligence it can, disputing reports that the spy community is with- holding information from the commander in chief. "The CIA does not, has not, and will never hide in- telligence from the pres- ident, period. We are not aware of any instance when that has occurred," Pompeo said in a statement aimed at quelling reports that the in- telligence community and Trump were in conflict. He said news reports that the agency was keeping in- telligence from the presi- dent are "dead wrong" and damage the "the integrity of thousandsofprofessionalin- telligence officers." Pompeo's statement came onthesamedaythatasenior WhiteHouseofficialsaidthe administration had asked a New York-based private eq- uity executive — Stephen Feinberg, co-founder of Cer- berus Capital Management — to lead a review of the U.S. intelligence community. Feinberg has been asked to make recommendations on improvements to effi- ciency and coordination be- tween the various intelli- gence agencies, the official said. His position was not to becomeofficialuntilhecom- pleted an ethics review, said the official, who wasn't au- thorized to discuss the mat- ter publicly. However, Trump later ap- peared to back off the idea, saying somebody else might not be needed because it could be handled by Pom- peo, FBI Director James Comey and Dan Coats, the president's nominee to be director of national intelli- gence who has not yet been confirmed. "They're in position so I hope that we'll be able to straighten that out without using anybody else," Trump said at a news conference. He said Feinberg was a "very talented man, very successful man" who has of- fered his services to the ad- ministration. "You know, it's something we may take ad- vantage of. But I don't think we're (going to) need that at all because of the fact that youknow,Ithinkthatweare gonna be able to straighten it out very easily on its own." The news that Feinberg was being tapped to do an intelligence review drew complaints from Democrats. Feinberg was among the economic advisers for Trump's presidential cam- paign. Cerberus Capital Management, a firm with $30 billion in investments, is deeply rooted in the Re- publican establishment. Former Vice President Dan Quayle is the firm's head of global investment, and for- merTreasurySecretaryJohn W. Snow, who served under President George W. Bush, is the firm's chairman. "While we must always be open to improving or- ganization and coordina- tion among intelligence agencies, taken in concert with the large number of troubling statements Presi- dent Trump has made den- igrating our nation's intel- ligence professionals, I am extremely concerned that this appointment signals a desire by the administra- tion to marginalize the role of the DNI or even take un- precedented steps to politi- cize intelligence operations," said Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, the ranking Dem- ocrat on the Senate intelli- gence committee. The DNI is the director of national intelligence. Many intelligence pro- fessionals also viewed the White House review as an- other slight by the Trump White House, according to a former senior U.S. intelli- gence officer who spoke only on condition of anonymity out of concern for putting former colleagues at risk. They already are worried about politicization of the intelligenceproductandfear this could be a way to hin- der their ability to provide information that might con- tradicttheWhiteHouse'spo- litical views, the official said. WASHINGTON CI A di re ct or : Ag en cy i sn 't h id in g in te ll ig en ce f ro m Tr um p By Laurie Kellman and Ken Thomas The Associated Press WASHINGTON Seeking a surer bet to fill out his Cabinet, President Donald Trump on Thursday moved quickly to name law school dean Alexander Acosta as his new choice for labor secretary — a day after An- drew Puzder abruptly with- drew from consideration. If confirmed by the Sen- ate, Acosta would be the first Hispanic member of Trump's Cabinet. Trump and key Republi- cans highlighted a key de- tail in Acosta's resume: He has won unanimous Senate confirmation three times — to a seat on the National La- bor Relations Board, as the head of the Justice Depart- ment's Civil Rights Division and as U.S. attorney in Mi- ami. "He did very, very well," Trump, said in a brief state- ment to start a White House press conference that was dominated by other chal- lenges facing the new ad- ministration. Acosta did not appear with him. Almost immediately, Acosta's Senate prospects looked better than Puzder's had after months of attacks on his personal life, state- ments and career as a fast- food CEO. "Mr. Acosta's nomina- tion is off to a good start be- cause he's already been con- firmed by the Senate three times," said Sen. Lamar Al- exander, the chairman of the Senate panel that will hold Acosta's confirmation hearing. Leading Democrats and their allies vowed to hold Acosta "accountable" as the head of an agency charged with enforcing worker pro- tections. CABINET By Julie Pace The Associated Press WASHINGTON Aggrieved andspoilingforafight,Don- ald Trump used a marathon encounter with reporters Thursday to denounce the "criminal" leaks that took down his top national se- curity adviser and revived questionsabouthisownties toRussia.Butheofferedonly a lawyerly denial that his campaign aides had been in touch with Russian officials before last fall's election. "Nobody that I know" he said in the first full-length news conference of his pres- idency. The 77-minute event amounted to a free-wheel- ing airing of complaints, with the new president at- tempting to find his footing after the rockiest launch in recent memory. Trump slammed a "bad court" of appeals judges for blocking hisrefugeeandimmigration executive order and denied that his White House was paralyzed by chaos and in- fightingamongtopadvisers. "This administration is running like a fine-tuned machine," he boasted. With his signature hy- perbole betrayed by reality, Trump said there has never been a president "who in this short period of time has done what we've done." He blamed any problems on the outgoing Obama ad- ministration — "I inherited a mess at home and abroad" — and the news media. Standing in the stately, chandeliered East Room, Trump lambasted the "out of control" media — long his favorite foe. He appeared to delight in jousting with re- porters, repeatedly inter- rupting their questions and singling out stories he dis- agreed with, well aware his attacks were sure to be cheered by loyal supporters who share his views. PollsshowTrumpretains supportamongRepublicans, andsolidmajoritiesofAmer- icans say he is following throughonhispromisesand is viewed as a strong leader, according to a Gallup sur- vey. But on other questions Americansexpressdeepres- ervations. PRESIDENT Trump raps 'criminal' leaks, 'dishonest' media, 'bad' judges Trump names Acosta as new choice to become labor secretary ALANDIAZ—THEASSOCIATEDPRESSFILE R. Alexander Acosta talks to reporters during a news conference in Miami. President Donald Trump says he's has chosen Acosta to be labor secretary. HARAZ N. GHANBARI — THE ASSOCIATED PRESS FILE Stephen Feinberg is seen on Capitol Hill in Washington. The Trump administration has asked the Feinberg, the founder of a New York-based private equity firm to lead a review of the U.S. intelligence community as President Donald Trump vows to crack down on what he describes as "illegal leaks" of classified information. 6,356fans+48 this week Facebook Page YOU'LL LIKE WHAT YOU SEE ..andgrowing,everyweek! Daily News Facebook fans receive special posts of breaking news, sports, weather and road closures, clicking right to full stories and photos published on redbluffdailynews.com ... 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