Kash Patel is set to be nominated by President-elect Trump to lead the FBI, a move that highlights the controversial nature of his selection and his close ties to Trump, which led to internal conflicts during the previous administration.
Patel has been vocal about his desire for sweeping changes within the Justice Department and the FBI, advocating for mass firings and the revocation of security clearances for anyone who investigated Trump during the 2016 election. He has often accused a “deep state” of working against Trump throughout his first term in office.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump praised Patel, describing him as a skilled lawyer and investigator committed to the “America First” agenda. He credited Patel with playing a crucial role in debunking what Trump called the “Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax,” framing him as a defender of truth and the Constitution.
Kash Patel poised for FBI leadership nomination, raising eyebrows over loyalty to Trump.
The announcement of Patel’s nomination comes with intentions to remove current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 and whose term was not scheduled to end until 2027. The FBI has not commented directly on Patel’s potential appointment. In a statement, the agency reaffirmed its dedication to protecting Americans, emphasizing Director Wray’s commitment to the bureau’s personnel and their mission.
However, Patel’s background may present challenges during his Senate confirmation process. Previously, he worked as a public defender and later served as a national security prosecutor in the Obama administration. Patel’s political career began as a staff member for Representative Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), where he acted as an adviser on the House Intelligence Committee.
In this capacity, Patel was instrumental in attempting to undermine the Democratic investigation into Trump’s connections to Russia, even authoring a report evaluating the FBI and DOJ’s investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. His association with Trump during the impeachment inquiry further establishes him as a loyalist within a series of appointments to key positions.
After transitioning from Congress to the White House, Patel held a position as the senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council before moving to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. His loyalty to Trump was evident when he was nearly appointed as deputy to then-CIA Director Gina Haspel, a move that she opposed, threatening to resign.
Patel later joined the Department of Defense in late 2020, where reports indicated he occasionally obstructed cooperation with the Biden transition team to prevent the sharing of information. On January 6, he was the chief of staff to acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, who took over after Trump dismissed Defense Secretary Mark Esper.
His brief tenure at the Pentagon drew scrutiny from the now-dissolved January 6 committee, which sought to interview him regarding documents and information related to the events of that day and the peaceful transfer of power. Patel has consistently denied any misconduct related to the Capitol attack.
Additionally, Patel was involved in the controversy surrounding Trump’s handling of classified documents at his Florida residence. He claimed to have witnessed Trump issuing verbal orders to declassify certain documents, a claim that could support a legal defense proposed by Trump’s attorneys.
Patel authored a children’s book titled The Plot Against The King, which portrays him as a wizard and Trump as the king facing threats from “Hillary Queenton,” along with appearances by Nunes and Representative Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
Currently, Patel serves on the board of the company that manages Trump’s social media platform. Recently, he reiterated Trump’s allegations about a “deep state,” expressing skepticism toward the FBI and its investigations into Trump’s 2016 campaign.
In a newsletter from his foundation, Patel asserted that the “deep state” cannot be trusted, claiming they have weaponized the government for personal and political gain, while labeling the investigation into Trump’s ties to Russia as a fraud.
Despite his support from Trump, Patel has encountered resistance from former FBI officials. Andrew McCabe, a former deputy director of the FBI, cautioned that Patel’s leadership would endanger the agency’s mission, stating that no aspect of the FBI would be secure with him in a leadership position, particularly as deputy director.
