By Allan Lengel
Kash Patel, the most controversial pick for director in the FBI’s history, was confirmed for the top post by the Senate Thursday in a narrow 51-49 vote, with only two Republicans opposing him. He becomes the ninth director of the FBI.
The Washington Post noted that each of the last three FBI directors got at least 92 votes in the Senate.
Democrats and other detractors have voiced concerns that Patel will exercise little independence from the White House and carry out a vendetta against agents and prosecutors who investigated President Donald Trump and raided Mar-a-Lago looking for top-secret documents.
Since Trump took office, at least eight top FBI officials have been pushed out and a number of prosecutors tied to Jan . 6 have been fired.
Republicans who have appeared reluctant to go against any of Trump’s nominees, have said Patel will help depoliticize the FBI. Democrats fear he’ll only make the agency more political, and that Patel will be unwilling to say no to whatever Trump wishes.
Before the vote, Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin said, according to the Washington Post:
“Mr. Patel will be a political and national security disaster if confirmed.”
