WASHINGTON (AP) -- President-elect Donald Trump has nominated Kash Patel to serve as FBI director, turning to a fierce ally to upend America's premier law enforcement agency and rid the government of perceived "conspirators."
The selection is in keeping with Trump's view that the government's law enforcement and intelligence agencies require a radical transformation. It shows how Trump is moving to place atop the FBI and Justice Department close allies he believes will protect rather than scrutinize him.
"Patel played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution," Trump wrote Saturday night in a social media post.
Patel's nomination sets up what's likely to be an explosive confirmation battle in the Senate not long after Trump's first pick to lead the Justice Department, Matt Gaetz, withdrew his nomination amid intense scrutiny over sex trafficking allegations.
Trump's nominees will have allies in what will be a Republican-controlled Senate next year. However, with only a slim majority, Republicans can only lose a few defectors in face of expected unified Democratic opposition — though as vice president, J.D. Vance would be able to break any tie votes.
Patel would replace Christopher Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 but quickly fell out of favor with the president and his allies. FBI directors have 10-year terms that are meant to inoculate them from political influence.
"Patel had virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the world's preeminent law enforcement agency," Barr wrote.
Patel's past proposals include dramatically reducing the agency's footprint and closing down its headquarters in Washington. He has suggested reopening it as "a museum of the deep state" — Trump's pejorative catch-all for federal bureaucracy.
"We're going to come after you, whether it's criminally or civilly. We'll figure that out," Patel said during an interview with Steve Bannon last December regarding media coverage surrounding elections.
Kash Patel is known for his work on Russian interference investigations while serving under Rep. Devin Nunes on House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. He helped author what became known as "Nunes Memo." The memo faced opposition from Wray and Justice Department due its sensitive content disclosure risks.