Texas Sen. Ted Cruz (R) expressed strong support for Kash Patel, who has been nominated by President-elect Trump to lead the FBI, describing him as a “very strong nominee.” Cruz remarked that it is “no secret” that current FBI director Christopher Wray is likely to resign or be dismissed.
In a discussion with Major Garrett on CBS News’s “Face the Nation” on Sunday, Cruz stated, “I think Kash Patel is a very strong nominee,” adding that he finds the entire roster of Cabinet nominees proposed by Trump to be impressive.
Ted Cruz highlights Patel’s impressive credentials while calling for a transformative change at the FBI
Cruz is confident that the Senate will confirm all the nominees, including Patel, highlighting Patel’s “serious professional” background. “You look at his background; he has a serious professional background,” he said, listing Patel’s diverse experiences as a prosecutor, public defender, senior intelligence staffer in both the White House and Congress, chief of staff at the Department of Defense, and deputy director of national intelligence.
Critics of Patel, according to Cruz, represent those who are uncomfortable with a genuine reformer stepping in to overhaul the FBI and address the entrenched partisan elements within the agency. Cruz emphasized the importance of the FBI and the Department of Justice, stating, “The FBI and the Department of Justice are two institutions incredibly important to the rule of law in the United States.”
He expressed his reverence for both organizations, lamenting that “one of the most tragic consequences of four years of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris is both the DOJ and the FBI have been politicized and weaponized.” Wray, appointed by Trump in 2017 for a 10-year term, is expected to be replaced by Patel, a loyal ally of Trump known for his controversial stance, as indicated in Trump’s announcement on Saturday.
