The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Kash Patel as the brand new FBI director, placing a staunch Trump loyalist in command of the nation’s prime regulation enforcement company regardless of Democratic issues over his {qualifications} and political alignment.
The Senate voted 51-49 on Thursday morning to finish debate on Patel’s nomination. Susan Collins was the one Republican senator to oppose Patel’s affirmation, claiming that Patel’s earlier public statements forged doubt on his skill to advance the FBI’s mission “in a method that’s free from the looks of political motivation”.
Patel’s appointment comes at a tumultuous time for the FBI, which has confronted inner shake-ups, together with the Justice Division’s latest dismissal of a number of high-ranking officers and calls for for agent names concerned in investigations associated to the January 6 Capitol riot.
A former counterterrorism prosecutor and ex-chief of workers to the protection secretary, Patel has beforehand criticised the FBI, elevating issues about his skill to steer the company impartially.
He replaces Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 however usually clashed with him earlier than resigning.
FBI administrators often serve for 10 years to guard the company from political affect and guarantee they don’t seem to be beholden to any particular president. Nonetheless, Patel’s shut ties to Trump have raised issues concerning the FBI’s independence.
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