Senator Lindsey Graham, President-elect Donald Trump's key ally on the Senate Judiciary Committee, said Sunday that he plans to support Kash PatelWho Trump has chosen to lead the FBI controversy broke out Even among some officials from Trump's first term.
“I'm ready to vote for Kash Patel,” said Graham, a South Carolina Republican. Said on Sunday's “Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan”,
Patel is expected to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the coming weeks, though her hearing has not yet been scheduled, while Senate Republicans work to quickly approve Trump's picks for top positions in his administration . But his selection can be considered one of the most controversial.
Patel, 44, served in intelligence and defense roles during Trump's first term, including chief of staff to then-acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller. The staunch Trump loyalist rose to prominence for his role in fighting the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, and later as a key Trump ally as he tried to overturn the 2020 election results.
Former Attorney General William Barr, who served under the Trump administration, wrote in his memoir about Patel's potential nomination for the FBI post, that Patel has “virtually no experience that would allow him to serve at the highest level of the world's premier law enforcement agency.” enforcement agency” and that “the idea of taking Patel to such a regime represents a shocking detachment from reality.”
Graham said he disagreed with Barr's sentiment, saying he “was wrong then and is wrong now.”
Graham said, “I wish there was a public defender. He was a prosecutor.” “So I think he has the experience, he has the confidence of the president, and we'll see how it goes.
Graham said he took advice on Patel from former South Carolina representative Trey Gowdy, who worked with Patel.
“Trey Gowdy is enthusiastically supporting Kash Patel and that means a lot to me,” Graham said.
Patel, who has been critical of current federal officials, has drawn controversy for including in his book a list titled “The Executive Branch Deep State”, which some have referred to as an enemies list, on which He may seek prosecution as FBI director. Barr, Attorney General Merrick Garland and President Biden are among several others on the list.
Graham said Patel would have to answer questions during his confirmation hearing about what is in the book, but added “I believe the hearing will expose him as being a very qualified person of the law.” “
FBI Director Christopher Wray announced Last month he said he would resign at the end of the Biden administration, although his term was set to end in 2027. Even before Wray's announcement, Trump had announced his intention to install Patel at the helm of the FBI.
Although Graham would not commit to supporting Patel “no matter what,” he said he was prepared to vote for him “because you would never ask me to end the FBI's darkest moment since J. Edgar Hoover.” What role did he play in exposing it?
In response, Brennan said that Graham should ask Patel about “going after the journalists”, as he has also said. Graham replied, “I'm sure our Democratic friends will ask him.”