A former district attorney is using the New Orleans terrorist attack as a platform to cast doubt Over President-elect Donald Trump's decision to nominate Kash Patel to be the next FBI director.
In an op-ed on MSNBC, Barbara McQuade, who has an attorney for the Eastern District of Michigan, said current FBI Director Christopher Wray's decision to investigate the ramming as a terrorist attack "brings with it legal authorities that are urgently needed in this kind of investigation as law enforcement searches for potential accomplices and assesses any ongoing danger to the public."
She added that the decision is far from symbolic and "demonstrates the importance of an FBI director with knowledge, experience and judgement." Saying that in "such quickly moving situations, sober leadership is essential," McQuade wondered if Patel, "who served a short stint as a trial lawyer in the Justice Department's National Security Division, have the experience to understand that nuance and make these types of calls?"
The former official listed the different tools put at the disposal of the FBI in such cases, including the lack of restrictions for search warrants, FISA providing agents authority to search premises, social media accounts and stored communications, as well as electronic surveillance in real time and basis to investigate groups potentially linked to suspects.
"All of these tools will help the FBI ascertain whether Shamsud-Din Jabbar had any accomplices who might pose an ongoing threat to public safety - and apprehend them if necessary. And as senators consider whether to confirm Patel in the coming weeks, this case should reinforce the high stakes of the job he wishes to take on," McQuade concluded.
Wray had several years left on his 10-year appointment as FBI head, but announced he will step down when President-elect Donald Trump takes office following several attacks from the Republican. Trump nominated Wray in 2017 after firing James Comey, but their relationship soured before Trump left office in 2021.
Trump wants to replace him with Patel, a 44-year-old loyalist with minimal experience in federal law enforcement management. During Trump's first term, Kash Patel worked on the National Security Council and served as chief of staff to the acting defense secretary. He rose to be a key figure in Trump's disputes with national intelligence and law enforcement agencies.
Patel has been a vocal critic of the FBI. He said in different interviews that, should Trump return to office, he would "come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections."
"We're going to come after you, whether it's criminally or civilly. We'll figure that out. But yeah, we're putting you all on notice... We're actually going to use the Constitution to prosecute them for crimes they said we have always been guilty of but never have," he told Steve Bannon on the War Room podcast.
Trump said during the campaign that Patel's book, Government Gangsters, is a "blueprint" for his administration. The book calls for "comprehensive housecleaning" of the FBI, which includes firing "the top ranks."
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