Trump’s decision to tap Kash Patel for FBI director sends shockwaves through Washington
Washington — President-elect Donald Trump’s announcement that he intends to nominate Kash Patel as FBI director sent shockwaves through Washington over the weekend, provoking outrage from Democrats and even some former Trump officials. Supporters of Patel, however, expressed their belief that he would secure confirmation from the Senate.
Patel, a 44-year-old who held various intelligence and defense roles during Trump’s first term, is considered controversial even among Trump’s circles. A former U.S. official described him as “by far the most dangerous pick” Trump has made, stating, “There is no ‘there’ to him. He’ll literally do anything.”
John Bolton, former national security adviser under Trump, compared the nomination to the leader of Stalin’s secret police, criticizing the notion of Patel leading the FBI. “Fortunately, the FBI is not” Stalin’s secret police,” he remarked, urging the Senate to reject this nomination unanimously.
Amid the backlash, it is crucial to note that current FBI director Christopher Wray’s 10-year term is scheduled to continue until 2027. For Patel to assume the role of FBI director, Wray would need to resign or be dismissed by Trump, followed by a confirmation from the Senate. With Republicans holding a 53-47 majority soon, the confirmation process presents a tight margin for incoming Majority Leader John Thune.
Trump praised Patel as “a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people.” Some supporters echoed this sentiment, including Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz, who referred to Patel as a “very strong nominee” and expressed confidence in his Senate approval.
“All of the weeping and gnashing of teeth, all of the people pulling their hair out, are exactly the people who are dismayed about having a real reformer come into the FBI and clean out the corrupted partisans,” Cruz said in a recent interview.
Senator Bill Hagerty of Tennessee expressed optimism for Patel’s potential, stating he “encouraged President Trump to bring Kash Patel to the table,” highlighting his representation of much-needed change within the FBI.
Conversely, some Republicans displayed caution regarding the nomination. South Dakota Senator Mike Rounds stressed his support for Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017, and commended Wray’s performance in his position thus far.
Democrats, on the other hand, voiced strong opposition to the nomination. Connecticut Senator Chris Murphy declared he would vote against Patel, raising concerns over his potential bias towards Republicans. Murphy emphasized the risk of turning the Department of Justice into a political tool, as alluded to during Trump’s campaign.
“Kash Patel’s only qualification is because he agrees with Donald Trump that the Department of Justice should serve to punish, lock up, and intimidate Donald Trump’s political opponents,” Murphy stated. “The cost to the American public is pretty simple.”
In recent weeks, numerous controversial selections for top posts in the administration have come under intense scrutiny as officials prepare for the Senate confirmation process. One such figure, former Representative Matt Gaetz, withdrew his name from consideration amid resistance in the Senate.
Senator Dick Durbin, the current majority whip in the Senate, urged colleagues to reject Trump’s selection of Patel, insisting the FBI already has a capable director and criticizing the president-elect’s apparent desire to replace him with a loyalist.
“The Senate should reject this unprecedented effort to weaponize the FBI for the campaign of retribution that Donald Trump has promised,” Durbin remarked.
