New Delhi, 21 Feb : The US Senate has confirmed Kash Patel as the new FBI Director in a closely contested 51-49 vote. Two Republican senators, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, broke ranks to join all 47 Democrats in opposing his appointment.
Senator Collins had earlier voiced concerns over Patel’s history of strong political affiliations, stating that the FBI requires a leader who remains completely impartial.
“Although Patel has dedicated 16 years to public service, his recent involvement in politically charged activities raises serious concerns,” she remarked. Collins pointed to Patel’s past statements criticizing the FBI and his role in distributing a controversial internal questionnaire as reasons for her dissent. “His political profile undermines his ability to serve in an unbiased capacity,” she added.
A staunch ally of President Donald Trump and a vocal critic of the FBI, Patel assumes leadership at a time of turbulence within the agency. His appointment follows the Justice Department’s removal of senior FBI officials and a controversial request to identify agents involved in investigating the January 6 Capitol riots.
Conservative Republicans have rallied behind Patel, arguing that the FBI has exhibited bias against right-wing figures, particularly during Biden’s tenure and in investigations involving Trump.
Patel replaces Christopher Wray, who stepped down before Trump’s return to office. He previously served as a federal defender and a counterterrorism prosecutor at the Justice Department. Patel first gained prominence while working for the House Intelligence Committee, where he challenged the FBI’s handling of the Russia probe.
Who is Kash Patel?
Born in Garden City, New York, Patel comes from a Gujarati immigrant family that fled ethnic persecution in Uganda during the 1970s and initially settled in Canada before moving to the U.S. His father worked as a financial officer in the aviation sector.
A graduate of the University of Richmond with a degree in History and Criminal Justice, Patel later earned a law degree from Pace University. Over his career, he has held key national security roles, including Deputy Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council.
During his tenure in the Trump administration, Patel played a significant role in counterterrorism operations, including missions targeting ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and Al-Qaeda figure Qasem al-Rimi. He also served as Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller, overseeing critical defense operations.
