Kash Panel is headed for confirmation as FBI director after a 12-10 party-line vote of the Senate Judiciary Committee to advance his nomination. The vote came after Democrats were able to force a one-week delay, reports Scripps News. Democrats accused Patel of having an "enemies list." Democrats claimed Patel created a list of President Trump's political opponents that would be subject to FBI investigations. Democrats called on Patel to return to the committee to answer additional questions, but Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) refused. Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) challenged Patel, citing his 2023 book "Government Gangsters." Patel said, “It’s not an enemies list. That is a total mischaracterization,” he said.
Patel said, "Any accusations leveled against me that I would somehow put political bias before the Constitution are grotesquely unfair," He said he had been endorsed by 300,000 law enforcement officers. Patel said during the hearing. "And I will have you reminded that I have been endorsed by over 300,000 law enforcement officers to become the next director of the FBI." Grassley said, "We’ve examined every detail of his life, and he’s been subjected to relentless attack on his character the whole time ... Patel has spent his whole career fighting for righteous causes." Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the top Democrat on the committee, said,
"My Republican Committee colleagues have chosen to ignore the myriad red flags about Mr. Patel, especially his recurring instinct to threaten retribution—political retribution—against his and President Trump’s perceived enemies. This is a dangerous characteristic for a person who wants to lead the ... FBI."
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