Andrew McCabe, the former FBI Deputy Director, warned that the bureau would face major risks if Kash Patel, a former aide to President-elect Trump, were nominated and confirmed to lead the agency.
McCabe told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Thursday that Patel’s leadership would put the FBI’s mission at risk, especially if he were appointed deputy director. “The authority in that position is vast, and with no intent other than to disrupt, Patel could cause substantial harm,” McCabe stated.
Patel, who has remained loyal to Trump since serving as a senior adviser to the acting director of national intelligence and as chief of staff to former acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller during Trump’s first term, has no formal background with the FBI.
Patel’s nomination reflects Trump’s pattern of controversial agency appointments
McCabe, reflecting on his own career, emphasized the importance of agency experience in understanding the FBI’s complex structure. “From my own experience, I know that without spending the first decade working in criminal investigations within the FBI, I would not have been effective in that role,” he explained during the CNN interview.
Former FBI Special Agent Daniel Brunner echoed McCabe’s concerns, stating that Patel’s leadership could cause “massive damage” to the agency. Brunner, also speaking on CNN, highlighted Patel’s unconventional resume, arguing that it made him a dangerous choice for FBI director.
Trump’s choice of Patel aligns with a pattern of unconventional appointments. Some have expressed similar concerns over the backgrounds of other nominees, such as former “Fox & Friends” host Pete Hegseth, tapped for the Defense Department, and former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, nominated for director of national intelligence.
In line with his vision for a transformative administration, Trump has enlisted figures like billionaire Elon Musk and biotech entrepreneur Vivek Ramaswamy, a former GOP primary rival. Ramaswamy is set to co-lead the new “Department of Government Efficiency” (DOGE), which aims to eliminate what the president-elect deems “wasteful” federal agencies.
