Kash Patel: President Donald Trump’s nominee confirmed as new head of FBI after Christopher Wray resignation
Following immense criticism, President Donald Trump’s nominee for leader of the FBI, Kash Patel, has narrowly been selected for the top job.
A vote was conducted in the US Senate, where Mr Patel was successful approved in a vote of 51 - 49.
Critics in the US have expressed concern around Mr Patel’s experience for the role.
Sign up to The Nightly's newsletters.
Get the first look at the digital newspaper, curated daily stories and breaking headlines delivered to your inbox.
By continuing you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy.Before the vote, Democrat Senator Dick Durbin said: “I cannot imagine a worse choice.”
A Trump loyalist who has fiercely criticised the agency, Patel will inherit an FBI gripped by turmoil as the Justice Department in the past month has forced out a group of senior bureau officials and made a highly unusual demand for the names of thousands of agents who participated in investigations related to the January 6 2021 riot at the US Capitol.
Patel has spoken of his desire to implement major changes at the FBI, including a reduced footprint at headquarters in Washington and a renewed emphasis on the bureau’s traditional crime-fighting duties rather than the intelligence-gathering and national security work that has come to define its mandate over the past two decades.
But he also echoed Trump’s desire for retribution.
Mr Patel replaces former FBI leader Christopher Wray who resigned before Mr Trump’s returned to the Oval Office.
More to come...
