Kash Patel’s name is being finalized for the FBI or Justice Department despite the potential backlash

Axios reports that President-elect Donald Trump is giving the final touches Kash Patelhas been named for a high-profile position at the FBI or Justice Department, though he is fully aware of the backlash the choice would attract. Given the obstacles Patel may face in winning Senate confirmation, Trump is considering naming him for a deputy director or designated investigations role at the DOJ, Axios reported, citing sources.
Indian-American Kush Patel briefly served in the Justice Department during the Obama administration.After Trump took office, he spent two years as a senior adviser to former Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., when he chaired the House Intelligence Committee in 2017 and 2018. was , assisting the committee’s widely criticized investigation into the FBI’s Russia investigation. In 2018, he served as Trump’s senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council to the senior adviser to the director of national intelligence on Trump’s National Security Council, and then was eventually promoted to chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller during Trump’s final months in office.
Patel has openly discussed retaliation against Trump’s political enemies in the government and the media, writing in his book: “[T]That FBI is so thoroughly compromised that it will continue to pose a threat to the public unless drastic measures are taken.”
Trump tried to appoint Patel as deputy director of the CIA or FBI in the final months of his presidency, according to multiple reports, but backed out after then-CIA Director Gina Haspel and then-Attorney General William Barr threatened to resign. move
“Kash has a number of allies who think putting him in the top role will be well received by the Trump base, and sends a clear message that Trump is serious about major reform of the justice and law enforcement agencies,” said one transition source. told Axios.
“President-elect Trump has made brilliant decisions about who will serve in his second administration. The rest of the decisions will be announced by him when they are made,” Trump transition spokeswoman Carolyn Levitt told Axios.
Trump has indicated he will fire current FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom he nominated in 2017 to serve a 10-year term after the ouster of James Comey.
Axios reported that a final decision on Patel has not been made and that Trump could still change his mind and make Patel FBI director, which could send shockwaves similar to Matt Gaetz’s nomination for attorney general, which Gaetz eventually had to withdraw. .