President-elect Donald Trump's announcement that he would nominate Kash Patel as the new FBI director drew harsh criticism from experts and lawmakers on Sunday's show.
In a post on Truth Social on Saturday, President Trump announced his intention to replace current FBI Director Christopher Wray, whom he hired during his first term. Since then, the media has labeled Patel a “highly controversial figure” because of his opposition to the “deep state.”
Left-wing commentators expressed concern about the politicization of the FBI and that Patel would become Trump's “enforcer” to “dismantle” the agency.
Juliet Kayyem, a former Obama administration official, claimed that Patel was chosen solely to go after Trump's political opponents.
Kash Patel, a longtime Trump ally, was named the next president on Saturday. (Getty Images)
Kash Patel's nomination arouses enthusiasm and anxiety. The future of the FBI seems uncertain.
”[Patel] There is no purpose other than revenge. So it's not like he has a theory of law enforcement, a theory of reducing crime or financial crime. There's one reason he's there, one reason he's close to Trump, and that's that he's going to be the enforcer of some kind of revenge tour in this second term. So it doesn't really matter what I think or what people should think. He was appointed for this purpose,” Kayem said.
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.) accused President Trump of being angry at Wray's display of too much “independence” and “objectivity” in her job, and said that Trump is angry at Wray's display of too much “independence” and “objectivity” in her job, and said that she would not accept any action by the current administration. He also rejected politicization.
“I haven't seen any evidence that the FBI was armed against political parties or against the Department of Justice. Of course, the Justice Department has indicted a Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey and a Democratic congressman from Texas.” And some people seem to think it should only go in one direction, and if it doesn't, I think that's what they mean when they talk about the politicization of the deep state. No one has ever defined the deep state. Apparently that just means people who don't submit to the will of Donald Trump,” Raskin said on CNN's “State of the Union” on Sunday.
White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan also denied politicization within the FBI and criticized Trump for wanting to replace Wray before his term ends.
Former Obama adviser Juliet Kayyem argued that Patel was only appointed to exact revenge on Trump. (Screenshot from CNN)
“The current FBI director, Chris Wray, was actually appointed by Donald Trump. Joe Biden fired him,” Sullivan told Kristen Welker on NBC's “Meet the Press.” “I have confidence in him to fulfill his responsibilities as FBI director.” He asked the FBI to investigate and allowed the Biden administration to complete its entire term. That's how we approach it, and we want the FBI to remain an independent agency that is insulated from politics. ”
Who is Kash Patel? Trump's nominee for FBI director has a long history of vowing to take down the “deep state.”
But Republicans reacted more positively to Patel's nomination.
“Donald Trump campaigned on reforming the FBI and the Department of Justice, and I don't know why something like this would frankly surprise people… Trump is Kash Patel. He nominated an individual who served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Justice to serve as the Chief of Staff for the Department of Defense…Deputy Director of NSI…a senior staff member on the House Intelligence Committee, who served as a federal prosecutor under the Obama administration and has the necessary experience for the role. We certainly have,” said New York State Congressman Mike Lawler. It's a federation. ”
He added: “The fact is that our justice system needs to be depoliticized, but unfortunately under the Biden administration we're seeing it weaponized, and that's wrong. ” he said.
Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Patel was a good choice to “take on partisan corruption in the FBI.”
“I think Kash Patel is a very strong candidate. I think all of the Cabinet nominees that President Trump has put forward are very strong. I think all of these Cabinet nominees will be confirmed by the Senate. I believe that Kash Patel, if you look at his record, he will be confirmed by the Senate,'' Cruz said.
He added: “The very people who are crying and gnashing their teeth and pulling their hair out are the very ones who are dismayed that serious reforms are being made to the FBI to root out the corrupt partisans who have sadly infiltrated the upper powers. I have to say that these are the people who are doing the job.'' They are full-time employees of the FBI. ”
Patel's nomination drew positive reactions from Republicans but negative reactions from left-wing commentators. (Getty Images)
On Saturday night, Andrew McCabe, who briefly served as acting FBI director and deputy director in the Trump administration in 2017, called Patel's nomination “a plan to disrupt, dismantle and distract the FBI.” It became a hot topic.
“This is a frightening development for FBI employees, for women, and for a country that depends on a highly capable, professional and independent federal law enforcement agency,” McCabe said on CNN. “The fact that Kash Patel is completely unqualified for this job is not even up for debate.”
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Mr. Wray is currently serving a 10-year term as FBI Director, which is scheduled to end in 2027. For Patel to succeed him, Ray would have to resign or be fired. In a statement to FOX News Digital, the FBI gave no indication that Wray was planning to resign.
“Every day, the men and women of the FBI continue to work to protect the American people from an ever-growing array of threats,” the statement said. “Director Wray remains focused on the men and women of the FBI, the people we work with, and the people we serve.”
