Trump Loyalist Kash Patel Likely to Get High-Impact Role: ‘Could Do a Lot of Damage’
PHOTOGRAPHER: YURI GRIPAS/GETTY IMAGES
A national security expert warned Tuesday that President-elect Donald Trump is expected to appoint Kash Patel, a staunch loyalist, to a powerful role within the FBI or Justice Department. Patel’s appointment could bypass Senate confirmation, allowing him to wield significant influence without facing lawmakers’ scrutiny.
“Patel would be an extremely controversial selection for any leadership role, including director of the FBI,” MSNBC’s Willie Geist explained. Patel, who served as a senior advisor during Trump’s first term, has frequently advocated using the Justice Department to target Trump’s political adversaries and the media.
According to reports, Trump is considering Patel for positions like deputy FBI director or another investigative role within the DOJ. These roles do not require Senate confirmation, allowing the administration to sidestep opposition even within a Republican-led Senate. Patel’s controversial background and statements are central to the hesitancy surrounding his nomination, told Axios.
Ken Dilanian, an NBC News correspondent, noted, “It seems they have made the decision that Kash Patel is not confirmable, particularly after the Gaetz debacle.” He added that opposition to Patel is less about his rhetoric against the “deep state” and more about questions surrounding his professional credibility, such as his disputed claims about leading the Benghazi case.
Instead, Dilanian explained, Trump’s team plans to place Patel in an influential role where he could operate without Senate oversight. “Deputy FBI director, for example, is essentially the chief operating officer. It’s a hugely responsible role,” Dilanian said. “Or even if they set him loose investigating the investigators… he could make a lot of mischief that way.”
Patel has repeatedly accused the FBI and DOJ of corruption, alleging a conspiracy by Democrats to prosecute Trump. “I’ve covered these investigations for two years—there’s not a shred of evidence that happened,” Dilanian emphasized, highlighting that Attorney General Merrick Garland took extreme measures to ensure impartiality in cases involving Trump.
The potential appointment has raised concerns that Patel, known for his MAGA-aligned criticisms of federal agencies, could exact revenge on Trump’s perceived enemies and further undermine the Justice Department’s credibility. “Patel is the personification of MAGA rage about the Justice Department and the FBI,” Dilanian added.
Reports also suggest Patel could be assigned to roles involving the CIA, where he has similarly clashed with the intelligence community, escalating fears about the damage his leadership could inflict on national security operations.
