The Senate voted 48-45 along party lines Tuesday to advance the confirmation of Kash Patel as President Donald Trump's Director of the FBI.
During Trump's first term, 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."
Patel's confirmation was delayed by Senate Democrats in the Judiciary Committee, citing ongoing concerns over Patel's qualifications to lead the department, particularly due to his unwavering loyalty to Trump, his connection to Jan. 6 rioters and his past vows to go after his political enemies.
"Kash Patel, Donald Trump's FBI Director pick, is an unqualified, unserious nominee who will make us less safe," the group of Democrats posted on X after the committee meeting. "He's a vengeful extremist— to the point that he seemingly lied under oath." However, the committee advanced his nomination last Friday in a 12-10 vote, sending his nomination to the Senate floor.
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