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By Khaleda Rahman
National Correspondent
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A group of Republican former officials have urged senators to oppose the nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI, saying that confirming him for the role would be a "grievous mistake."
Newsweek reached out to the White House via email and a spokesperson for Patel via social media for comment.
Why It Matters
Trump has moved to place loyalists in high-level positions in a bid to exert control over a Justice Department that has investigated him for years.
Read More on Politics
Patel, a former federal public defender who served in several roles in President Donald Trump's first administration, has been a vocal critic of the FBI's investigation into potential ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.
He has signaled a determination to overhaul the FBI and pledged to dismantle the "deep state" and punish Trump critics. "We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media," he said in late 2023.
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What To Know
"We are former law enforcement officials who served in Republican administrations, Republican members of Congress, and other policymakers who are committed to the rule of law," they wrote in a letter to senators obtained by Newsweek. The Hill first reported its contents.
"We write to express our deep concerns about Kash Patel's nomination to serve as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Confirming Patel would be a grievous mistake that would endanger the FBI's integrity and compromise its critical mission."
The letter was signed by 23 people, including former acting attorneys general Stuart Gerson and Peter Keisler and others who served in the Justice Department during the Nixon, Reagan and both Bush administrations.
Several former representatives, including Barbara Comstock, Mickey Edwards, Claudine Schneider and Joe Walsh, and Ty Cobb, a White House lawyer during the first year of Trump's first term, also signed the letter.
The letter says Patel lacks the experience and temperament to lead the FBI and is "motivated by revenge."
It also says he has a history of "poor judgement that has reportedly endangered American lives," citing a report from The New York Times that said Patel endangered a SEAL Team Six operation in October 2020 by claiming the Nigerian government had been informed of the operation when it had not.
The letter said Patel "has repeatedly engaged with and courted the dangerous QAnon conspiracy" and has baselessly suggested the FBI planned the January 6, 2021, attack on the United States Capitol and produced and promoted the "J6 Prison Choir" song.
Some members of the choir had been convicted of assaulting police officers, yet Patel "has consistently portrayed the choir members as 'political prisoners' and victims of injustice.
"The FBI should not be led by a man who whitewashes the actions of those who assault law enforcement," it said.
The letter concludes: "The FBI is a cornerstone of our justice system, tasked with defending our nation against threats both foreign and domestic. Its director must be a person with strong ethics, sound judgment, and an unwavering commitment to enforcing the law. Kash Patel has repeatedly demonstrated that he is not this person. To preserve the FBI's integrity, the Senate should reject this nomination."
What People Are Saying
President Donald Trump, in a Truth Social post announcing Patel's nomination: Patel "is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People. He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution."
Trump added that Patel "will work under our great Attorney General, Pam Bondi, to bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity to the FBI."
Patel spokeswoman Erica Knight told USA Today: "Kash looks forward to his upcoming hearing as an opportunity to highlight his extensive experience and present the truth to the American people in a comprehensive and meaningful way."
Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said on the Senate floor on Monday that Patel and two other Trump nominees, Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr., testifying before Senate committees this week have "deeply troubling backgrounds and equally troubling views."
Americans "deserve to know–will the FBI focus on public safety and rule of law, or focus on Donald Trump's personal grievances?" Schumer said. "Mr. Patel and his hearing will give us answers."
What Happens Next
Patel will appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing on Thursday.
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