More GOP Senators Indicate Willingness to Support Kash Patel as FBI Leader

December 3, 2024 TruthUSA

At least two Republican senators have openly indicated that he is likely to be confirmed as the FBI director.

This week, several Republican senators expressed their willingness in media interviews to support Kash Patel as the new FBI head, following President-elect Donald Trump’s nomination of Patel for the position.

Trump announced Patel’s nomination, who previously served as a Pentagon official during his first administration, over the weekend. The nomination will require Senate confirmation, and only a handful of Republican defections would be permissible if Democrats stand united against Patel.

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), who opposed Trump’s previous candidate, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) for attorney general before he withdrew, mentioned that she would need time to familiarize herself with Patel’s background.

“I don’t know Kash Patel,” Collins told reporters. “I’ve heard his name, but I’m not acquainted with his background, and I will need to undertake extensive review before making a decision on him. I’ve generally found it crucial to evaluate the background check, committee deliberations, and the public hearing process.”

Sen. Joni Ernst (R-Iowa) asserted to reporters this week, “I absolutely believe he will get confirmed.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) remarked that “Kash Patel would be an excellent choice to bring about necessary changes there.”

In a CBS News interview on Sunday, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) characterized Patel as a “very strong nominee” for the FBI, asserting that it is “no secret” regarding the impending dismissal or resignation of current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who has not publicly indicated any plans to resign.

“When you consider his background, he has a significant professional history,” Cruz said about Patel. “He was a prosecutor, a public defender, and worked as a senior intelligence staffer on Capitol Hill and in the White House. Additionally, he served as the chief of staff at the Department of Defense and was the deputy director of national intelligence.”

Moreover, Cruz expressed confidence that Patel “will indeed be confirmed by the Senate” to oversee the federal law enforcement agency.

Nonetheless, it seems that Patel will enjoy minimal—or zero—Democratic backing in the Senate.

Senate Majority Whip and Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) commented, “He has made statements concerning the weaponization of law enforcement and reform in the FBI, which leads many to suspect—hopefully incorrectly—that he will engage in the same type of political retribution he accuses this administration of.”

Durbin also remarked that Trump’s decision to nominate Patel as FBI director is “unusual,” given that Wray’s 10-year term does not conclude until 2027.

“The rationale behind a 10-year tenure in the FBI is to bypass any political affiliations,” Durbin added, recalling that Trump himself appointed Wray as director in 2017.

Sen. Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, stated this week on MSNBC that he finds Patel’s nomination “offensive,” branding him a “conspiracy theorist” for questioning the legitimacy of the 2020 election results.

“I already know how I’m going to vote regarding anyone who adheres to conspiracy theories, denies the 2020 election results, and then proposes to oversee the FBI by shutting down FBI headquarters. Are you serious?” he questioned.

The FBI has chosen not to comment on Patel’s nomination or any potential resignation of Wray. A spokesperson for the bureau communicated to The Epoch Times that Wray is focusing on “the men and women of the FBI, those we collaborate with, and those we serve.”

Patel, a former host on EpochTV, has been a vocal critic of the FBI’s application of its surveillance powers under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act and in an interview on the “Shawn Ryan Show,” he called for “major, major reforms” within the bureau.

Additionally, Patel has suggested reducing the federal government’s intelligence community, including operations within the CIA and National Security Agency.

The next Congress is set to be sworn in on January 3, 2025, with Trump scheduled for inauguration on January 20 of next year.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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