Several of President-elect Donald Trump’s Cabinet nominees, from Matt Gaetz to Pete Hegseth to Robert F. Kennedy Jr., have faced massive backlash and media opposition aimed at derailing their nominations. facing.

But one candidate conservatives were poised to lose, FBI Director nominee Kash Patel, is in a protracted battle that appears to be sailing toward confirmation, despite early laments from Democrats. .

Patel, a former chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense, became famous during the 2016 election for vocally criticizing Mueller’s investigation into “Russian interference,” but the investigation turned up nothing and President Trump’s He only caused a lot of confusion in his first term.

Democrats vehemently opposed Patel’s selection, citing his book’s “enemies list” and his pledge to purge the federal bureaucracy of subversive and disloyal elements, but the Senate decided against it. Even if it does affect you, it is not noticeable. People familiar with the matter say Patel was able to overcome the conflict thanks to her efforts with longtime members of Congress to help Trump get re-elected.

People close to Mr. Patel said his efforts to advance the MAGA agenda were a driving force behind Mr. Trump’s continued relationship with Senate Republicans while he was out of office. His singular focus paid off, and his efforts now put him on the verge of landing a prominent position in the second Trump administration that he had hoped would eventually arrive. (Related article: Kash Patel wants the FBI to step back from spying — this is a good place to start)

“I knew Kash Patel by reputation during the Trump administration, but I’ve only really gotten to know him in the last few years. When he was wandering around town, we We chatted a lot. I found him to have keen political acumen and also a fun person to talk to and strategize with,” Utah Sen. Mike Lee told the Caller. .

“Long before his name was on the shortlist for FBI Director, I knew he was a dedicated patriot and that President Trump’s second term would hold us accountable,” the senator said. “I knew that I had first-hand experience with a corrupt bureaucracy,” he added.

Patel has met with more than a dozen senators since receiving FBI confirmation, and many have publicly expressed support for him. Trump transition, Politico reportedfurther backlash against the FBI’s nomination is expected. But that hasn’t happened, in part because senators already know who Patel is and what they can expect from him when he takes office.

Several leading senators told the Caller that they had developed relationships with Patel over the past three years by discussing national security and America’s top priorities.

In collaboration with Devin Nunes, Kash Patel was instrumental in dismantling the Russia hoax.

He is the author of the famous memo that exposed how the FBI lied in the FISA spy warrant against Carter Page.

He exposed how the fake Steele dossier was funded and used by Hillary’s campaign.

— Greg Price (@greg_price11) December 1, 2024

“I’ve been following his career for a while, ever since he worked with Devin Nunes to expose Russian disinformation and FISA abuse. We connected at several events and have been together for years. He visited my office and was a great advisor on national security and other areas,” Kansas Sen. Roger Marshall told the Caller.

Prior to Trump’s announcement, Patel had been floated as a possible candidate to lead either the FBI or the Justice Department. The uproar over Patel against the FBI grew even louder when Gates withdrew her name from the running for attorney general and was replaced by former Florida governor Pam Bondi.

Patel’s expected selection caused a “shock”, but it was only short-lived. one of the former bureaucrats said CBS News reported that he was “the most dangerous pick ever.” NBC News He wrote that he hosted a show on The Epoch Times, a “conspiracy-filled far-right media organization.” slate He complained about Patel’s “terrifying” “enemies list”. (Related: James Carville seems to think all Indians are alike and confuses Kash Patel with the Daily Caller publisher)

But one senator after another announced their support. And perhaps the best sign Patel was likely to be confirmed came when his predecessor, Chris Wray, resigned this month.

“Kash has been one of my favorite people to call with defense and national security questions since I came to Washington, D.C., and his breadth of experience and approach to these important issues is truly unparalleled.” Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville told Caller.

Before joining the Trump administration, Patel was known around Capitol Hill as national security adviser and senior adviser to the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence. That experience has proven beneficial in building relationships with Congressional leaders over the past several years.

“His work uncovering the FBI’s mishandling of the Russian collusion hoax, known as the Crossfire Hurricane investigation, puts him in a unique position to start a new day at the agency, fighting crime and… We can ensure that we get back to our primary mission of protecting our nation,” Republican South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham, press secretary, told the Caller.

Prior to her appointment, Patel gained attention for speaking out against the weaponization of the surveillance state, and recently called for a “24/7 declassification office”. He had previously proposed seizing FBI headquarters, shutting it down and turning it into a museum.

This kind of thing remains a bull case for Kash Patel. How many Republican officials are former public defenders (the thankless job Patel did for eight years in Miami)? In the summer of 2020, when few people around the world were interested in Syria, hostage rescue operations in Syria caused a stir. pic.twitter.com/XVz0LmbDLz

— Curt Mills (@CurtMills) December 22, 2024

“Kash’s drive to lead the FBI is deeply personal and rooted in his family’s story. His father was driven from a genocidal dictatorship with no law or order to the security that America provided. and fled in search of opportunity,” Patel’s spokeswoman Erica Knight told the Caller.

“He has spent the last several years intentionally building relationships with senators, meeting with them, and preparing for this moment,” she continued.