Ex-FBI and CIA Director Criticizes Patel and Gabbard, Calls on Senators to Block Trump’s Appointments – One America News Network
OAN Staff Blake Wolf
5:29 PM – Friday, December 27, 2024
William Webster, a former director of both the CIA and FBI, is urging the Senate to oppose President-elect Donald Trump’s selections of Kash Patel for FBI director and Tulsi Gabbard for national intelligence, arguing that both candidates lack the necessary qualifications.
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Webster, who served as the FBI director during the Reagan administration, is the only person to have headed both the FBI and the CIA.
At 100 years old, Webster was born in 1924.
He was appointed to lead the FBI in 1978 by former Democratic President Jimmy Carter and continued in this role for two full terms under Republican President Ronald Reagan, before taking over as the director of the CIA under Republican President George H.W. Bush in 1988.
Webster expressed his apprehensions, stating he is “deeply concerned” about the selections of Patel and Gabbard for their respective positions, emphasizing that these roles require “complete independence from political influence.”
He also noted his particular concern regarding Patel, citing his history of personal loyalty to Trump, which could create conflicts with legal standards.
“While Mr. Patel’s intelligence and patriotism are commendable, his close political alignment with President Trump raises serious concerns about impartiality and integrity. Statements such as ‘He’s my intel guy’ and his record of executing the president’s directives suggest a loyalty to individuals rather than the rule of law—a dangerous precedent for an agency tasked with impartial enforcement of justice,” he wrote.
Patel has been a vocal critic of the FBI’s investigation concerning Trump, previously asserting he would eliminate purported globalist “deep state” operatives from the agency. He has also referred to certain Democratic officials as “government gangsters.”
The centenarian Webster additionally criticized Gabbard for her “profound lack” of experience within U.S. intelligence agencies, arguing that leadership in this area demands exceptional expertise.
“Effective management of our intelligence community requires unparalleled expertise to navigate the complexities of global threats and to maintain the trust of allied nations,” he continued. “Without that trust, our ability to safeguard sensitive secrets and collaborate internationally is severely diminished.”
Gabbard has faced criticism from mainstream media figures, who have labeled her a “Russian asset” for simply opposing U.S. funding for the war in Ukraine. Despite her service in the Army National Guard and deployment to Iraq in 2004, media commentators have repeatedly accused her of echoing “Russian talking points.”
In response, MAGA supporters and the Trump transition team defended both Gabbard and Patel.
“Kash Patel is loyal to the Constitution. He’s worked under Presidents Obama and Trump in key national security roles,” stated Alex Pfeiffer, a Trump transition spokesman.
“It shouldn’t come as a surprise that someone who has endorsed Joe Biden and has been wrong on every foreign policy issue over the last four years opposes President Trump’s nominees. Lt. Col. Gabbard is an active member of the Army and has served in the military for over two decades. In Congress, she has dealt with intelligence at the highest levels, especially during wartime, emphasizing the importance of alliances to keep the American people safe,” remarked Alexa Henning, a Trump transition official.
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