President Donald Trump unveiled on Saturday night his selection of committed Trump advocate, Kash Patel, as his choice for the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
Patel, a core member of Trump’s transition team, has always been a prominent and outspoken supporter of Trump, even appearing at his criminal trial in Manhattan and perpetuating conspiracy theories regarding the 2020 election. He previously held the position of Chief of Staff to the Secretary of Defense during Trump’s first term and has been vocal in his calls for a cleanout of Trump’s adversaries from the Justice Department, FBI, and other intelligence organizations.
Trump, through a post on Truth Social, described Patel as an “exceptional lawyer, investigator, and an ‘America First’ champion who has dedicated his career to unmasking corruption, defending justice, and safeguarding the American populace.”
Trump further emphasized Patel’s key role in debunking the alleged Russian interference in the 2016 elections, praising him as a proponent of truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Patel, during that period, served as an aide to Republican Rep. Devin Nunes, a position that elevated his standing in Trump’s close circle.
If endorsed, Patel will succeed the incumbent FBI Director Chris Wray, whom Trump appointed in 2017 after dismissing James Comey. Wray’s term is not due to end until 2027, meaning Trump will have to dismiss Wray to make room for Patel, unless Wray chooses to resign first.
In response to the announcement, the FBI released a statement emphasizing their continued commitment to protecting Americans from an escalating array of threats.
Patel had initially aimed for the position of deputy director of the CIA, a post that doesn’t require Senate confirmation, unlike the FBI director position. It remains uncertain whether Patel, who is a controversial figure even among Trump’s loyalists, will secure the necessary Senate votes for confirmation.
When Trump initially proposed Patel for the FBI’s deputy director role, then-Attorney General Bill Barr vehemently objected. CIA Director Gina Haspel also threatened to resign over the proposition.
Patel was involved in the series of events that led to special counsel Jack Smith’s criminal charges against Trump. He was granted limited immunity to testify in the case related to Trump’s decision to gather classified documents in his Mar-a-Lago estate after leaving office.
Patel also testified before the Jan. 6 committee and federal prosecutors about Trump’s discussions to deploy the National Guard ahead of the Jan. 6, 2021, violence.
Furthermore, Patel served as a witness in Trump’s defense in a Colorado trial that alleged Trump incited an insurrection on Jan. 6. Despite the trial being an attempt by Trump’s opponents to remove him from the ballot under the Constitution’s Insurrection Clause, the Supreme Court eventually overturned the decision.
Patel, a former federal public defender and federal prosecutor in the Justice Department’s national security division, has been aiding the president-elect in compiling a list of potential candidates for the Justice Department.
Patel has also pledged to probe and possibly prosecute journalists, declaring last year, “We’re going to come after you. Whether it’s criminally or civilly, we’ll figure that out.”
Trump also announced Chad Chronister, a sheriff from Hillsborough County, Florida, as the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency. Chronister, a longstanding veteran of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, is the latest Floridian to join Trump’s administration.
Trump, in a Truth Social post, stated that Chronister would collaborate with Pam Bondi, his appointee for attorney general, to “secure the Border, halt the influx of Fentanyl, and other illegal drugs, across the Southern Border, and preserve lives.”
Chronister was initially appointed to his post by then-Florida Governor Rick Scott.
Contributions to this report were made by Betsy Woodruff Swan.
