Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said Sunday that the New Year’s Day attack in New Orleans shows Kash Patel “should not be confirmed” as President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee to head the FBI. said.
Schiff said on NBC News’ “Meet the Press” that the attack was “an FBI director who is experienced, judgmental, dignified, and who prioritizes protecting the country from the violence we see in the news.” “It highlights why it’s important.” Orléans, or the violence we saw on January 6th. ”
Schiff added that the Senate should not confirm “someone as unqualified as Kash Patel, whose number one priority is political vendetta and who believes in deep state conspiracy theories.”
A spokesperson for President Trump’s transition team did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Schiff’s remarks.
Patel, a longtime Trump supporter, has previously come under fire for promoting the lie that the 2020 presidential election was “stolen” from Trump. He has previously promoted baseless conspiracy theories that “deep state” officials are working to overthrow Trump.
Comments Patel made to another Trump ally in 2023 resurfaced after President Trump said in December that he would nominate her to head the FBI. On a podcast with Steve Bannon, Patel vowed to “go after” journalists, lawyers and judges who she believes are not treating Trump fairly.
“We will go to court according to the facts and the law and correct the judges and lawyers who have prosecuted these cases based on politics,” Patel said.
“We’re going to go after co-conspirators, not just in government, but in the media. And yes, we’re going to go after people in the media who lied about the American people who helped Joe Biden rig the presidential election,” he added. Ta.
In an interview with “Meet the Press” on Friday, Senate Minority Leader John Thune (R.S.D.) said Patel would prioritize the FBI’s mission and rebuilding trust in the agency if confirmed. He said he believed he would.
“I think the FBI is an institution that needs reform, needs a good makeover, so to speak. … I think the confidence and trust[in the FBI]has been severely eroded, and we have an opportunity to repair that.” Yes,” Thune told moderator Kristen Welker.
“I sat down and met with him, and I think he understands that it’s a mission, and if he successfully gets through the nomination process, he takes that responsibility very seriously and will continue to serve the American people.” I hope that he will focus on what he can do to run the FBI in a way that protects the FBI and takes responsibility for it,” Thune added.
Asked whether he intended to support Patel when the full Senate votes to confirm him, Thune did not specify his position.
“At this time, I have not yet advertised or made public my positions regarding individual candidates, but my job is to ensure that they receive a fair process,” he said. Ta.
