Kash Patel Pledges to Rebuild the FBI Following Senate Confirmation

HIGHLIGHTS:

• The US Senate confirmed Kash Patel as FBI Director with a narrow 51-49 vote, despite opposition from Democrats and two Republican senators.
• Republicans see Patel as a much-needed disruptor for the FBI, while Democrats worry about his loyalty to Trump and lack of law enforcement experience.
• Patel takes charge of an FBI shaken by the removal of top officials and ongoing investigations into the 2021 Capitol riot, pledging to rebuild public trust in the agency.

Kash Patel, the newly confirmed FBI director, has pledged to "rebuild" the agency after his approval by the US Senate, despite his longstanding criticism of the bureau. Upon Patel's confirmation by the U.S. Senate, the vote stated 51-49 with two joined Republicans against their own party, confirming Patel as the nominee put forth by President Trump.

The Democrat leadership, ever apprehensive, spoke about Patel possibly going after those critics of Trump, though Patel, the nominee, expressed no interest in going after political enemies.

While testifying, Patel, 44, denied having made a list of "deep state enemies" and sought to downplay his earlier remarks, which have landed him in controversy, referring to law enforcement agents engaged in bursting open inquiries into Trump as "acting like criminals and gangsters."

Every Democrat opposed the nomination, with two Republican senators rarely choosing party lines Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska joining in opposition. Two senators from the opposing party gave yet another blow to Patel's nomination, now marking the 18th member of Cabinet denied confirmation since Trump was sworn in about a month ago.

"I am honored to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation," Patel said on X, shortly after he was confirmed by the Senate.

"My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops - and rebuild trust in the FBI."

"We will rebuild an FBI the American people can be proud of," he added.

Patel assumes leadership of an FBI in turmoil, following the Justice Department's removal of several top officials and its demand for the names of agents involved in investigating the 2021 Capitol riot by Trump supporters.

Patel's confirmation was met with cheers across Washington DC, as Republicans convened for the annual Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC).

Florida Senator Rick Scott took the stage at CPAC and asked the audience, "What do you think about Kash Patel?" The crowd responded with loud applause.

For many Republicans, Patel is seen as a disruptor who will bring much-needed change to the nation's top law enforcement agency, which they and Trump argue has been weaponized against conservatives.

However, Democrats view Patel as a far-right conspiracy theorist with limited law enforcement experience, believing he would prioritize loyalty to Trump over his duty to lead an independent department.

"[Patel's] poor judgment and lack of experience make him wholly unqualified to keep Americans safe as our FBI Director. I voted no," Senator Martin Heinrich said on X.

Patel replaces Christopher Wray, whom Trump appointed in 2017. Wray resigned before last month's inauguration after the incoming Republican president signaled he would be dismissed.