On Thursday, the Senate confirmed Kash Patel as the new head of the FBI, despite his controversial past and accusations from Democrats of purging FBI employees. Patel was confirmed with a 51-49 vote. Two Republican Senators, Susan Collins from Maine and Lisa Murkowski from Alaska, voted against his confirmation.
Patel has made several bold statements, including saying he would “shut down” FBI headquarters on his first day and turn it into a “museum to the deep state.” He also sparked concern among Democrats with a list of “government gangsters” in a book he wrote.
Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, accused Patel of “likely committing perjury” over his claims about not being involved in FBI firings that happened soon after. Durbin strongly criticized Patel, calling him “vindictive” and “dangerously politically extreme.” He warned Republicans that they would regret their vote in the future, saying, “You want someone in that job to show some temperament and judgment. Kash Patel shows just the opposite.”
FBI directors are appointed for a 10-year term, but Patel was nominated after President Trump’s re-election, which signaled that the president intended to replace then-FBI Director Christopher Wray before the end of his term in 2027.
Patel started his career as a public defender and later worked for Representative Devin Nunes. He played a key role in trying to discredit investigations into Trump’s ties to Russia. Patel also wrote a series of children’s books, promoting ideas about defeating the “Deep State” and restoring democracy, which led to accusations that he was chosen for his loyalty rather than qualifications.
Senator Durbin mentioned a whistleblower tip that suggested Patel took steps to punish FBI officials, particularly those involved in investigating the January 6 Capitol attack. The Justice Department is now looking into the FBI employees who worked on these cases.
Collins and Murkowski both cited Patel’s past politically charged statements and the alleged purge of FBI staff as reasons for their opposition. Collins said these actions raised doubts about Patel’s ability to lead the FBI without political bias. Murkowski expressed concern that Patel’s past political actions could influence his leadership, stressing the importance of an unbiased FBI.
Many Republicans, however, support Patel, seeing him as the right person to fix what they believe is a politicized FBI. Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley argued that Democrats’ fears about Patel misusing the FBI for political gain were unfounded. Grassley believes Patel’s leadership will break from past practices and bring needed change.
Patel held various national security roles under President Trump, working at the Department of Defense, the National Security Council, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. However, he had conflicts with other members of the Trump administration, including former Attorney General Bill Barr and National Security Advisor John Bolton, who have since become critics of Trump.
After leaving the administration, Patel appeared on right-wing podcasts and started a foundation raising money for charity, alongside individuals involved in the January 6 attack. Patel denied involvement in fundraising for a recording by these individuals, despite previous social media posts where he helped with the project.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel avoided or gave unclear answers to many questions about his past statements, leading to further criticism. Senator Amy Klobuchar said that Patel misled the committee and seemed to have no recollection of things he had said just months before, calling this behavior either “irresponsible at best or deceitful at worst.”
