Conservative firebrand Kash Patel(44), a loyal follower of President Donald Trump, was approved by the U.S. Senate as the new director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on Thursday.
The nomination was approved by 51 votes to 49, with 'No' votes cast by the 47 Democratic senators along with two moderate Republicans, Lisa Murkowski (Alaska), and Susan Collins (Maine).
Patel’s appointment is controversial, with Democrats warning that he may use his new position to seek revenge on Trump’s perceived political enemies.
In a book he authored, ‘Government Gangsters,’ Patel published an appendix with a list of "enemies," including former FBI directors James Comey and Christopher Wray, as well as ex-President Joe Biden and former Vice President Kamala Harris.
During his Senate confirmation hearing, Patel said there would be “no politicisation” at the FBI and “no acts of retribution.”
He accused Democrats of taking fragments from old remarks out of context, and said snippets of information can often be misleading.
In Trump’s first term, Patel served in the administration, but in a less visible role.
