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Last Updated:February 20, 2025, 22:50 IST
Patel's confirmation comes despite concerns from Democrats about his qualifications and fears that he may align too closely with US President Donald Trump's agenda
Kash Patel at his confirmation hearing (X)
The US Senate on Thursday approved Kash Patel as the new FBI Director, placing him at the helm of the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency.
Patel’s confirmation comes despite concerns from Democrats about his qualifications and fears that he may align too closely with US President Donald Trump’s agenda.
A staunch Trump loyalist, Patel has been vocal in his criticism of the FBI, raising questions about his ability to lead the agency.
Patel will take charge of an FBI that has been facing significant turmoil. In the past month, the US Justice Department forced out a group of senior FBI officials and made the highly unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents involved in investigations related to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot.
Who Is Kash Patel?
Kash Patel, a staunch Trump loyalist, has a background in both defence and intelligence. Born in 1980 in Garden City, New York, to Gujarati Indian immigrant parents, Patel’s career has been closely tied to Trump’s political rise.
Before being nominated to lead the FBI, railed against the bureau over its investigations into the president and claimed that Jan. 6 rioters were mistreated by the Justice Department.
Patel gained national attention for his role in the committee’s investigation into alleged Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election. He was instrumental in drafting the controversial “Nunes Memo," which accused the FBI of abusing surveillance powers in its investigation into the Trump campaign.
ALSO READ: Trump’s FBI Director Pick Kash Patel Says He Faced Racism: ‘Was Told To Go Back, Called Terrorist’
(With inputs from agencies)
Location :United States of America (USA)
First Published:February 20, 2025, 22:37 IST
