Texas Republican Sen. John Cornyn, a leading figure among the Senate GOP’s moderate lawmakers, says he is “confident” that President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to serve as FBI director, Kash Patel, will secure confirmation to the post.
“People I know and who I trust speak well of him and I’m looking forward to meeting with him,” Cornyn told radio host Hugh Hewitt. When pressed on whether Patel would be confirmed, Cornyn simply replied “yes, he will be.” He also relayed that Pam Bondi, whom Trump has tapped to serve as Attorney General, spoke favorably to him about Patel.
Cornyn is a member of both the Senate Intelligence Committee and the Senate Judiciary Committee. His backing shows that many moderate Republicans are okay with him running the FBI.
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Last month, Trump took to Truth Social to announce that he picked Kash Patel to head the department.
“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,” the president-elect said.
“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. 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 said.
There is one issue standing in the way of the nomination and that is the man who heads the FBI today, FBI Director Christopher Wray, who was appointed by the president-elect to take the place of former FBI Director James Comey, who he fired.
FBI directors serve 10-year terms, and Wray has three years left on his current tenure, meaning he would either have to resign or be fired before Patel could take the reigns.
Patel has terrified the DC establishment with what he has said about the FBI and the Department of Justice.
On “The Shawn Ryan Show” he said that “The FBI’s footprint has gotten so freakin’ big.”
And in 2023 he spoke to Steve Bannon on his “War Room” podcast where he said that if Trump were elected the FBI would come after “conspirators.”
“We’ve got to put in all-American patriots top to bottom,” he said of the Department of Justice, and he said that the department “will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government but in the media.”
“Yes, we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections – we’re going to come after you,” he said.
The announcement was met with consternation from those who oppose the president-elect and his agenda.
“Do not normalize Trump. He is an enemy of this country. This latest pick only confirms it. Biden & Harris must not go to his inauguration. They both, everyone, must speak out. Trump is trying to destroy this country. This is not normal. Time to resist. It’s past time,” former Republican Congressman Joe Walsh said on X.
Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe had a meltdown on CNN.
“It’s a terrible development for the men and women of the FBI and also for the nation that depends on a highly functioning professional independent Federal Bureau of Investigation,” he said.
“The fact that Kash Patel is profoundly unqualified for this job is not even like a matter for debate. So I think what we should, what we should really be thinking about right now is what does this signal in terms of Donald Trump’s intent for the FBI,” he said.
“Kash Patel will be another test of the Senate’s power of advice and consent,” Democrat Sen. Chris Coons said on X. “Patel needs to prove to the Senate Judiciary Committee that he has the right qualifications and, despite his past statements, will put our nation’s public safety over a political agenda focused on retribution.”
