US President-elect Donald Trump, on Sunday (Indian time), named his loyalist Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). With this, Patel became the second Indian American to be picked in his cabinet.
Taking to his account on Truth Social, Trump said that Indian-American Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI.
“I am proud to announce that Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel will serve as the next Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and ‘America First‘ fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution. Kash did an incredible job during my First Term, where he served as Chief of Staff at the Department of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence, and Senior Director for Counterterrorism at the National Security Council,” he said in a post on Truth Social.
” Kash has also tried over 60 jury trials. 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. Kash will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI,” he added.
Who is Kash Patel?
Indian-American Kash Patel briefly served in the Justice Department during the Obama administration After Trump took office, he spent two years as senior counsel to former Rep. Devin Nunes, R-Calif., when he led the House Intelligence Committee in 2017 and 2018, helping with the committee’s widely criticized inquiry into the FBI’s Russia investigation.
In 2018, he served as Trump’s senior director for counterterrorism on the National Security Council to senior adviser for Trump’s directors of national intelligence, and then finally being promoted to chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller during Trump’s final months in office.
Patel has openly discussed retaliation against Trump’s political enemies in government and media, and wrote in his book: “[T]he FBI has become so thoroughly compromised that it will remain a threat to the people unless drastic measures are taken.”
However, Patel has invited controversy throughout his career. In a past interview, he stated, “come after” politicians and journalists perceived to be enemies of the then-president-elect. This statement, aimed at those considered adversaries of Trump, has triggered debate about Patel’s approach to national security.