Kash Patel, designated by the FBI director, cleared the Senate committee on a partisan vote on Thursday, with Republicans moving the confirmation process to the upper room floor.
All 12 GOP members of the Senate Judiciary Committee proceeded with Patel's confirmation, while 10 Democrats on the panel opposed it.
Patel, 44, a former public defense attorney for the first Trump administration, Congressional aide and national security official, has undergone a “stricken review” and has committed to eradicating “political bias” at the FBI This led to strong support from Judicial Chairman Chuck Grassley.
“Mr. Patel helped to make Crossfire Hurricane public. He funded the Democratic National Committee's false allegations against President Trump, and the DOJ and FBI eavesdrop on the presidential election from FISA courts. “We hid the information for this and showed that the FBI lawyers lied in the process,” Grassley (R-Iowa) said.
“As a reward for his efforts to uncover the truth, he was attacked by the media and the DOJ secretly summoned his record. I know one or two things about this kind of retaliation. staff received similar treatment during the investigation.”
Senate Democrats delayed the vote last week – since accusing Patel of forgerying himself during his confirmation hearing.
Sen. Dick Durbin, a top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, falsely claimed he was unaware of the recent firing of FBI officials, but has been working behind the scenes after President Trump took office. He insisted.
Other Democrats pointed to Patel's statement denying any involvement in the production of “Justice for Justice” by the Jan. 6 mob at federal prison.
Grassley fought back in his opening remarks as follows: “Before we hold a hearing, the committee members were called Patel, who were “fraud, unreliable, lacking character, wolves at the door, conspiracy theorists, stubborn politics.” It is called “the loyalty, the nightmare.” ” “
“The purpose of this is very obvious. I'm hoping that throw everything into the wall and something sticks,” he added. “And they're being directed at candidates who served his country during both Democrat and Republican administrations.”
The Judicial Chair also stated that the FBI needed “reform” and “even shooting” and that Patel is a worthy of work, and that the whistleblower who spoke to his staff was retaliated by officials from the same department. He pointed out that it was done. I was recently fired.
Trump, 78, tapped a candidate in November to “end the growth of the US crime epidemic, dismantled immigrant criminal gangs, and halted the evil tragedy of human trafficking across the border. “He said. Kash will work under our great Attorney General Pam Bondi to regain faithfulness, courage and integrity to the FBI. ”
At his confirmation hearing, Patel said, “I vowed to “cut” a wide range of categories of crimes, including 100,000 rapes in this country next year. He has no 17,000 murders. ”
In particular, he broke with Trump in the massive pardon of the mob on January 6th. This includes those who assaulted Capitol police while stalling Congressional recognition for Joe Biden's victory in January 2021.
“I do not agree to commute sentences for individuals who have committed violence against law enforcement,” he said.
Patel also told the senator he had no plans to use the bureau's resources to investigate Democrats, claiming that “98% of the FBI are courageous, brave warriors of justice.” .
“They need better leadership,” he told members of the Judiciary Committee last month.
Patel will serve a 10-year term as FBI director if confirmed.
He is the last of Trump's controversial candidates, with the Senate confirming Tarsi Gabbard as Director of National Intelligence and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as Secretary of Health and Human Services. There is.
