Trump nominates Indian-origin Kash Patel as FBI Director; know all about 'America First' fighter
PTC News Desk: US President-elect Donald Trump has proposed Kashyap "Kash" Patel, an Indian-American Pentagon official, as FBI director. Patel, a Trump supporter, has been an avid advocate of dismantling the US government's "deep state".
"Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people," Trump said in a statement on his social media platform, Truth Social.
President-elect Trump hailed Patel's work during his first term, stating he was instrumental in uncovering the "Russia Hoax." Patel's nomination also reflects Trump's dissatisfaction with the existing FBI leadership under Christopher Wray, whom he appointed in 2017.
Trump has openly lambasted Wray's handling of the FBI, notably the investigations of Trump himself. During Wray's tenure, the FBI conducted a court-approved search of Trump's Mar-a-Lago home in Florida in connection with sensitive papers, which outraged the former president and his supporters.
Patel, 44, has made it clear that he wants to restructure the FBI. In an appearance with the conservative Shawn Ryan Show, Patel recommended dramatic reforms, such as dismantling the FBI's intelligence-gathering operations and repurposing its headquarters.
Who is Kash Patel?
Patel was born in Queens, New York, to Gujarati parents who immigrated from East Africa. After completing his law degree, Patel served as a public defender in Florida, representing clients in state and federal courts. He eventually worked for the Department of Justice as a prosecutor, handling high-profile international terrorism cases in East Africa and the United States.
When Patel became a civilian lawyer for the Department of Defence, his career took a new direction. He worked with Special Operations Command, focussing on global counterterrorism activities. His work piqued the interest of Congressman Devin Nunes, then-chair of the House Intelligence Committee, who hired him as senior counsel for counterterrorism.
Patel rose to prominence during President Trump's first term and was a key figure in the House Republicans' investigation into the FBI's handling of the Russia investigation. He was instrumental in drafting the controversial GOP memo that accused the FBI of bias in its probe into Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. The New York Times dubbed the paper the "Kash Memo" and it became a flashpoint in the political struggle over the Russia inquiry.
- PTC NEWS
