IN a decision which evoked mixed reactions, US President-elect Donald Trump has picked former Pentagon official of Indian origin Kashyap “Kash” Patel to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Known to be a staunch Trump loyalist, the 44-year-old has been vocal about removing what he calls the “deep state” within the American administration.
Announcing his decision to nominate Patel, the son of immigrants from the Indian state of Gujarat who reached the US from erstwhile East Africa, Trump said on his social media platform Truth Social, “I am proud to announce that Kashyap “Kash” Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First’ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People.”
I am proud to announce that Kashyap “Kash” Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and “America First” fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the…
— Donald J. Trump Posts From His Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) November 30, 2024
He also said that the FBI director nominate played a key role in unearthing the “Russia Hoax”. Patel will succeed Christopher Wray, also appointed by Trump during his first term in 2017. The Republican leader was not happy with the functioning of the FBI under Wray’s leadership as it carried out a search at former’s Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida in August 2022 as part of a probe into the handling of presidential documents. It was, however, not clear whether Wray would step down or be sacked.
The Deep State is officially on notice!
Kash Patel is coming to clean house! pic.twitter.com/964enD1pD3
— Lauren Boebert (@laurenboebert) December 1, 2024
Patel, who was born and brought up in Long Island and received a law degree from Pace University Law School, worked as a public defender in Miami for nearly a decade before shifting to Washington DC where he worked at the US Department of Justice’s National Security Division.
A critic of ‘deep state’ who wants to overhaul FBI
Known for defending the president-elect, Patel believes the idea that an anti-Trump “deep state” comprising biased government servants work to harm Trump from behind the scenes, and also wrote a book on the matter.
In various interviews and public remarks, Patel has revealed his will to overhaul the FBI and radically reshape its purpose.
In an interview this year on the Shawn Ryan Show, Patel spoke about severing the FBI’s intelligence-gathering activities from the rest of its mission. He even vowed to “shut down” the domestic intelligence agency’s headquarters in Washington DC.
Trump praises Patel’s role in his first term
Patel served in many top-level posts during Trump’s first term (2017-21), which included that of the national security advisor and the chief of staff to former acting defense secretary Chistopher Miller. He also worked as a senior aide to former GOP Congressman and a ranking member of the House Intelligence Committee Devin Nunes.
In his announcement, Trump said Patel did an “incredible job” during his first term and that the FBI under the latter would strive to “end the growing crime epidemic in America, dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and drug trafficking across the border”.
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