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Senator Durbin Challenges Kash Patel’s Nomination to Lead the FBI

Senator Dick Durbin (Ill.), who serves as the leading Democrat on the Senate Intelligence Committee, has reached out to various agencies that previously employed Kash Patel, requesting detailed information regarding potential misconduct associated with Patel, President-elect Trump’s controversial choice to head the FBI.

In a series of letters, Durbin outlined several allegations against Patel. He claims that Patel attempted to halt coordination efforts with the incoming Biden administration during the transition, sought to declassify information that would benefit Trump, and was noted as a key ally in Trump’s attempts to resist the transfer of power following the 2020 election defeat.

“The Director must be able to execute the FBI’s mission in a nonpartisan, impartial manner that is above reproach. The credible allegations against Mr. Patel outlined above are deeply troubling, and the Committee is unable to properly consider his nomination without more information on his underlying conduct,” Durbin stated in correspondence addressed to the Justice Department, Department of Defense, and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI).

The letters compile years of investigative reporting on the controversies surrounding Patel’s career.

One of the letters references Bloomberg’s reporting, which reveals that Patel coordinated with officials from the White House, Department of Justice, and Republican lawmakers to declassify documents that were perceived as advantageous to Trump, including summaries of interviews involving former Obama administration officials linked to the investigation into Trump’s connections with Russia.

Durbin also suggests that Patel may have improperly disclosed classified information, noting that the Justice Department reportedly received a complaint about one such disclosure from an intelligence agency.

Further, the letter addressed to the Justice Department highlights a connection between Patel and then-Director of National Intelligence John Ratcliffe, who is now Trump’s nominee for CIA leadership. Ratcliffe reportedly viewed Patel as a “trustworthy” individual capable of working with Jeffrey Clark, a former DOJ official who attempted to advance Trump’s unfounded allegations of election fraud following the 2020 election.

This assertion stems from notes acquired by the committee, which record Clark’s observations about Patel.

The inquiry seeks comprehensive information from the DOJ and ODNI regarding Patel’s declassification activities, his interactions with Ratcliffe, and any investigations related to the misuse of classified information.

Another point raised in the correspondence alleges that Patel was involved in obstructing transition efforts at the Pentagon. Durbin stated that during Patel’s tenure, he was accused of disrupting the Biden Administration’s transition processes and interfering in tasks typically managed by career officials.

“Kash is proud of his service at the DOJ, DOD, and DNI, and looks forward to answering any of Senator Durbin’s questions at his confirmation hearing,” remarked Alex Pfeiffer, a spokesperson for Trump.

While Patel’s confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled, he frequently came up in discussions during the confirmation process for Pam Bondi, Trump’s nominee to lead the Justice Department.

Lawmakers noted Patel’s controversial list of “government gangsters” from his book by the same name, highlighting individuals he believes should be held accountable.

Having served as a key aide on the House Intelligence Committee, Patel was instrumental in countering the investigations into Trump’s election campaign, a subject that has also inspired literature geared towards younger audiences.

When questioned about the possibility of Patel instigating inquiries into Trump’s detractors, Bondi assured that he would adhere to the law.

“If he is confirmed, and if I am confirmed — he will follow the law if I am the attorney general of the United States of America. And I don’t believe he would do anything otherwise,” Bondi stated during a recent hearing.

Updated at 4:56 p.m. EST

Source
thehill.com