WASHINGTON, Feb 21: President "The New" Trump's confidant and loyalist Indian-origin
Kash Patel, 44, was sworn in as the FBI director by Attorney General Pam Bondi
in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building (EEOB)
on the White House campus in Washington on Friday following his confirmation
on Thursday by the Senate. Patel is the ninth director of the FBI, succeeding
Christopher Wray.
The vote in the Snate was 51-49. He is the 18th Cabinet official confirmed
by the Senate.
"I think he'll go down as the best ever at that position," President Donald
Trump told reporters ahead of the swearing-in attended by Republican supporters
in Congress.
All the Democrats and two Republicans - Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa
Murkowski (Alaska) - opposed him in the Senate.
Patel will be a disruptor like what presidential aspirant Vivek Ramaswamy would
have been. However, Dems said in the Senate he lacked experience and is unqualified
for the job.
'Government Gangsters'
An anti-corruption crusader and critic of the ‘Deep State’, Patel is likely
to overhaul the agency. His book 'Government Gangsters' talks about moving the
FBI headquarters out of Washington. But he has a tendency to attack reporters.
"He had served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defence, Deputy Director
of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National
Security Council. Mr. Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials,” Trump had said
at the time of his nomination.
His brief will be: “This FBI will end the growing crime epidemic in America,
dismantle the migrant criminal gangs, and stop the evil scourge of human and
drug trafficking across the Border. Mr. Kash will work under our great Attorney
General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI,”
Trump had said.
Christopher Wray (58), an attorney, who was picked by Trump in 2017 in his
previous term as the FBI Director resigned last month before Trump's inauguration
as he fell out with Trump. Wray's predecessor, lawyer James Comey (64), the
7th director, was in office since 2013 and terminated in 2017. The term of the
FBI Director is 10 years. The FBI was created in 1936 converting DOJ's investigation
unit.
Patel saved Trump from the Russian poll scam by manipulating the investigation.
Trump who does'nt stick will use him to the hilt.
Patel's girlfriend
Patel's girlfriend Alexis Wilkins, a successful country singer and Republican
representative Abraham Hamade's press secretary, was also present at the swearing-in
alongwith his relatives. She was born in Boston and raised in London, Switzerland,
Arkansas and Los Angeles. She is an active supporter of military issues. A woman
of many parts. Patel met her first at a rally in 2022 and became instant friends.
Patel, like many Indian-Americans, is keen to demonstrate his Indian heritage.
Chanting ‘Jai Shri Krishna’ before starting any activity is also a favourite
with Patel.
Patel was born to Indian Gujarati parents in New York in 1980. His parents
had migrated to Uganda and when President Idi Amin expelled all Asians, they
took asylum in Canada from where later they moved and settled in New York. Patel
studied at the University of Richmond and took his degree in law from Pace University
School of Law. He practiced at State and Federal courts. He has worked for the
national security and intelligence agencies. He was Justice Department counterterrorism
prosecutor too.
Senate Judiciary Committee approval
On February 13 Patel had won the approval of the Republican-controlled US Senate
Judiciary Committee in a 12-10 vote, paving the way for the final confirmation
by the Senate. The Democrats said Patel, who had called for a root and branch
change in the top law enforcement agency, is unfit to lead the bureau. He had
also called for the FBI's headquarters in Washington to be ermanently shut and
converted into a museum and the staff sent to the field across the US as cops.
"We are inviting a political disaster if we put Kash Patel into this job,"
said Democrat member Dick Durbin.
Previously the Trump nominee had testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee
on Capitol Hill on January 30. In the meantime, the FBI was ordered to hand
over a list of the employees behind th January 6 investigations. The ovehaul
had already begun.
Patel denied keeping a list of "deep state" enemies.
He had a role in getting Trump a clean chit in the Russian poll meddling scam.
Patel had also worked in counterterrorism at the Justice Department for about
three years. In other positions he worked for the Office of the Director of
National Intelligence, the National Security Council and as chief of staff to
the defence secretary.
After the first Trump term Patel began business dealings with several foreign
countries including China. Critics say his dealimgs abroad pose threat to national
security interests. He holds unvested stock in Shein. His work for the Embassy
of Qatar has also come under a cloud.
Patel reaction on confirmation
Patel said in a post on X, "I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director
of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thank you to President Trump and Attorney
General Bondi for your unwavering confidence and support.
"The FBI has a storied legacy—from the “G-Men” to safeguarding our nation in
the wake of 9/11. The American people deserve an FBI that is transparent, accountable,
and committed to justice. The politicalization of our justice system has eroded
public trust—but that ends today.
"My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops—and rebuild trust in
the FBI. Working alongside the dedicated men and women of the Bureau and our
partners, we will rebuild an FBI the American people can be proud of.
"And to those who seek to harm Americans—consider this your warning. We will
hunt you down in every corner of this planet.
"Mission First. America Always. Let’s get to work."
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