The Senate Judiciary Committee voted along party lines on Thursday to advance the nomination of Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s choice for FBI director. This decision pushed past concerns from Democrats who feared that Patel would act as a loyalist to the president, targeting his perceived opponents.
The committee approved the nomination with a 12-10 vote, sending it to the Republican-majority Senate for further consideration.
A final confirmation vote is expected next week. Despite earlier doubts about some of Trump’s nominees, including new Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Republicans have shown strong support for Trump’s picks.
Patel has raised concerns due to his limited management experience compared to previous FBI directors, as well as a history of controversial statements. These include calling those investigating Trump “government gangsters” and referring to some individuals charged in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot as “political prisoners.”
During his confirmation hearing last month, Kash Patel defended his past statements, claiming that Democrats were either misinterpreting or taking them out of context. He explained that when he suggested shutting down the FBI headquarters in Washington and turning it into a museum for the “deep state,” he was making a broader point. Patel also rejected the idea that a list of government officials in his book, whom he claimed were part of a “deep state,” was an “enemies list,” calling such claims a “total mischaracterization.”
Kash Patel, who was chosen by Trump in November to replace Christopher Wray as FBI director, would take over an agency facing significant turmoil, including the recent forced departures of several senior executives and an unusual demand from the Justice Department for the names of all agents involved in investigations related to the January 6 events.
A letter from Sen. Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the committee, referenced unnamed sources suggesting that Patel had been secretly involved in this process, despite his statement during the confirmation hearing that he was unaware of any plans to remove agents. In response, a spokeswoman for Patel dismissed the claims as “second-hand gossip” intended to push a “false narrative.”
On Thursday, Democrats criticized Kash Patel, portraying him as a dangerous and inexperienced loyalist who could misuse the FBI’s law enforcement powers, especially at a time when the U.S. faces heightened threats from China and international terrorism.
Senator Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island called Patel’s judgment “appallingly bad,” warning, “Mark my words: this Patel guy will come back to haunt you.”
Senator Dick Durbin also expressed concern, telling his colleagues that confirming Patel would invite a “political disaster.”
Speaking directly to the Republicans on the committee, Durbin acknowledged their desire to remain loyal to the president and support his nominations but emphasized the gravity of the decision. He warned, “This really gets down to the heart of the future of an agency that is critical to the security of this nation.”
Republicans, on the other hand, expressed strong support for Kash Patel, arguing that he was the right choice to lead the FBI and address what they see as a bias within the agency, particularly following the criminal investigations into Trump.
Senator Marsha Blackburn of Tennessee stated, “The American people are sick and tired of two tiers of access, treatment, and justice,” adding that this was especially evident during the Biden administration’s actions involving the DOJ and FBI.
Senator Ashley Moody of Florida acknowledged that while Patel hadn’t served in senior FBI roles, he might be the right fit for a new direction, highlighting his extensive federal experience and nontraditional background.
A former Justice Department prosecutor, Patel first gained attention from Trump during his first term. As a staffer on the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee, he helped write a memo that strongly criticized the FBI’s investigation into Russian interference in Trump’s 2016 campaign. Patel later joined Trump’s administration, serving as a counterterrorism official on the National Security Council and as chief of staff at the Defense Department.