Washington. US President-elect Donald Trump on Saturday nominated his close aide and confidant Kash Patel for the post of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The selection is consistent with Trump’s view that overhauling the government’s law enforcement and intelligence agencies is needed. Trump has also expressed his desire for vengeance against his opponents. In such a situation, Patel’s selection for this post matters.
“Patel played an important role in exposing the lies spread regarding Russia and stood as a champion of truth, accountability and the Constitution,” Trump wrote in a post on social media Saturday night. “I am proud to announce that Kashyap Kash Patel will serve as the next Director of the FBI,” he said on the proprietary social media platform Truth Social. “Kash is an outstanding lawyer, investigator and ‘Put America First’ warrior who has exposed corruption and defended justice and the American people throughout his career.”
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Patel (44) had served as the ‘Chief of Staff’ to the US acting Defense Secretary in the last few weeks of the then Trump administration in 2017. “Kash did a great job during my first term,” Trump said. During this period, he was Chief of Staff in the Ministry of Defense, Deputy Director of National Intelligence and Senior Director of Anti-Terrorism Department in the National Security Council. Kash also advocated on behalf of the administration in more than 60 hearings held in the court.
Born in New York, Patel belongs to Gujarat. However, his mother is from Tanzania in East Africa and his father is from Uganda. He came to America from Canada in 1970. Patel had earlier told PTI in an interview, “We are Gujaratis.” The announcement means that current FBI Director Christopher Wray will either have to resign or resign after Trump takes office on January 20. He will be dismissed.