After Donald Trump's reelection last week, media speculation has suggested that Kash Patel, a former Defense Department official and author of what Trump called a “roadmap to end the Deep State's reign,” could be under consideration to become Trump's attorney general, CIA director, or could even replace current FBI Director Christopher Wray, ABC News reports. Patel’s book, "Government Gangsters," calls for a "comprehensive housecleaning" of the Justice Department and an eradication of "government tyranny" within the FBI by firing "the top ranks" and prosecuting "to the fullest extent of the law" anyone who "in any way abused their authority for political ends." Patel's proximity to Trump and Trump's public embrace of Patel's book underscore how a major shake-up could be coming to the Justice Department or FBI.
Patel’s book suggests that the FBI officials, who he has accused of exploiting their authority to boost Democrats and undermine Republicans, should be fired and potentially charged. On a podcast two months ago, Patel said anyone involved in "Russiagate" should be stripped of their security clearances. According to Patel, there is a "massive" list of such government officials, from the FBI and Justice Department to the CIA and U.S. military. "They all still have clearances," including those who left government for private sector jobs, so "everybody" should lose their clearances, Patel said. "President Trump called [my book] the roadmap for 2024, and now let's put it into work," Patel said Thursday on a podcast, without indicating whether he himself might take on a senior-level role in the incoming administration. A spokesperson for Trump's transition team did not respond to a request for comment from ABC News.
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