Kash Patel, the new FBI director and a close ally of Donald Trump, is raising concerns with his recent requests that blur the line between the FBI and the White House. These actions have been considered unprecedented, especially when compared to how things were done in previous administrations.
A report from the Wall Street Journal revealed that Patel, who was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a slim margin, asked for direct phone lines to Trump from both his FBI office and his home. This would allow Patel to speak directly with the president, bypassing the Department of Justice (DOJ) – a process that has traditionally been used to maintain separation between the FBI and the White House.
After taking office, Patel’s first move was to remove all the executive staff from the seventh floor, where his office is located. He then inquired about setting up an arrangement where he could communicate directly with Trump, rather than following the usual chain of command that has the FBI director report to the deputy attorney general, who then communicates with the president.
The Journal report highlights how, in this administration, officials like Patel and others at the DOJ have shown more loyalty to Trump and his deputy chief of staff, Stephen Miller, than to the traditional structures of government. The report adds that Trump, after facing several investigations from the DOJ, has made changing the department a top priority.
Patel has also looked into hiring his own private security team, despite already having protection from FBI agents. According to the Journal, Patel’s request suggested he may not fully trust the FBI agents assigned to his security.
