Donald Trump Pick Kash Patel Must Prove He'll Restore Public Faith in FBI, Leading GOP Senator Says | LatestLY

Donald Trump Pick Kash Patel Must Prove He'll Restore Public Faith in FBI, Leading GOP Senator Says | LatestLY
Source: LatestLY

Washington, December 1: Donald Trump's drive to upend the FBI was welcomed by Republican senators although it was not clear on Sunday how strongly members of the incoming majority party would embrace his move to install ally Kash Patel as the next director of the Justice Department's top investigative arm.

Patel, a onetime national security prosecutor who is aligned with the president-elect's rhetoric about a "deep state," "must prove to Congress he will reform & restore public trust in FBI," said Sen Chuck Grassley of Iowa, in line to be the Senate Judiciary Committee chairman when Republicans take control in January, in a post on X. Patel lacks the high-level legal and management experience that FBI directors, including Robert Mueller, James Comey and Christopher Wray, who now holds that job, had before their nominations. It's a 10-year term, and Trump named Wray in 2017 after firing Comey. So Trump's announcement late Saturday means Wray must either resign or be fired after Trump takes office on Jan 20, 2025.

"Every president wants people that are loyal to themselves," said Sen Mike Round on ABC's "This Week". But he called Wray "a very good man" picked by Trump himself, and "I don't have any complaints about the way that he's done his job right now". A president has "the right to make nominations," Rounds said, before noting the job is normally for 10 years, a length meant to insulate the FBI from political influence of changing administrations.

"We'll see what his process is, and whether he actually makes that nomination. And then if he does just as with anybody who is nominated for one of these positions once they've been nominated by the president then the president gets you know the benefit of doubt on nomination but we still go through process" of providing advice and consent under Constitution Rounds said He added: "That can be sometimes advice sometimes it is consent."

Other Republicans who appeared on Sunday news shows at end Thanksgiving holiday before returning work week were Patel's corner Sen Bill Hagerty said Patel represents type change need see FBI entire agency needs cleaned out He told NBC Meet Press serious problems American public knows expect sweeping change Kash Patel just type person do It He said relevant experience head can see fix here

During Trump's first term Patel aide then-Republican chairman House Intelligence Committee before taking roles White House National Security Council later Defence Department played pivotal role uncovering Russia Hoax standing advocate truth accountability Constitution Trump wrote Saturday night social media post

Patel has called for comprehensive housecleaning government workers disloyal referred journalists traitors promising try prosecute some reporters selection keeping view law enforcement intelligence agencies require radical transformation stated desire retribution supposed adversaries shows still fuming over years federal investigations shadowed first administration later led indictment moving place atop close allies believes protect rather scrutinize him

Grassley said post Wray failed fundamental duties time chart new course TRANSPARENCY ACCOUNTABILITY at FBI Sen Ted Cruz very strong nominee thought confirmed All weeping gnashing teeth pulling hair out exactly people dismayed real reformer come Democrats oppose him
"Patel's only qualification agrees Donald Trump Department Justice punish lockup intimidate political opponents," said Sen Chris Murphy NBC.