Kash Patel, Trump Ally, Confirmed as FBI Director by a Slim Margin

February 24, 2025 TruthUSA

Patel has strongly condemned the management of the agency, asserting that it is highly politicised, and has committed to initiate reforms.

Kash Patel, a staunch supporter of Trump, has been appointed as the new director of the FBI, positioning him at the forefront of the U.S. government’s law enforcement agency.

Following several weeks of rigorous hearings, President Donald Trump’s nominee was officially confirmed on Feb. 20 with a tight 51–49 vote, reflecting significant discord in the Senate.

Patel, aged 41, announced on social media platform X that he was privileged to become the ninth director of the FBI, pledging to restore its credibility amidst a backdrop of recent controversies surrounding the agency.

“The American public deserves an FBI that is transparent, accountable, and devoted to justice,” Patel stated.

He has vocally denounced the agency’s operations, alleging it has been excessively politicised, and has promised to implement changes. This stance has placed him in opposition to the Democratic senators, who collectively cast votes against his appointment.

Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) sided with Democrats to oppose Patel’s nomination, while most Republicans offered their support.

The Democratic Senate, which has opposed the majority of Trump’s nominees, cited Patel’s insufficient experience, character, and temperament as reasons for their disapproval, accusing him of potentially targeting Trump’s political rivals—a claim he has persistently denied.

“There will be no politicisation at the FBI. There will be no retaliatory actions taken by any FBI members if I am confirmed as the FBI director,” Patel asserted during a Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing on Jan. 30.

Patel’s opinions regarding the Jan. 6, 2021 Capitol riot were also scrutinised. Democrats commonly hold Trump accountable for inciting the assault by urging his supporters to storm the Capitol while he was addressing a rally nearby.

Patel contends that the FBI mishandled the incident and alleges they played a role in orchestrating the upheaval.

The FBI has confirmed the presence of 26 confidential human sources in the area at that time.

Raised in Garden City, New York, to Indian immigrant parents, Patel has a legal background and began his career at the Department of Justice in 2014, working in the National Security Division and acting as a legal liaison to the Joint Special Operations Command, where he dealt with terrorism prosecutions.

In 2017, he served as senior counsel for the House Intelligence Committee under then-Chair Devin Nunes (R-Calif.), investigating the contentious FBI inquiry known as “Crossfire Hurricane,” which scrutinised possible connections between Trump and Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign that commenced prior to his inauguration.

Patel questioned the validity of this investigation, alleging that the FBI abused its surveillance powers and portrayed the inquiry as a partisan effort to undermine Trump’s presidency during his first term.

By 2019, he rose to the position of senior director of counterterrorism on the National Security Council before becoming principal deputy to Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell. Subsequently, he served as chief of staff to Acting Secretary Christopher Miller until 2021.

Nathan Worchester contributed to this report.

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