Washington DC [US], February 21 (ANI): Kash Patel, an ally of President Donald Trump, has been confirmed by the Senate as the new Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) following a narrow 51-49 vote. All Senate Democrats voted against Patel, while he received strong support from most Republican senators, including Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. However, the nomination did face opposition from Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Susan Collins of Maine.
Earlier, Patel had cleared a key procedural vote in the Senate with strong backing from Republicans, passing with a 48-45 vote along party lines. This set the stage for a 30-hour debate before the final confirmation.
In his confirmation hearings on January 30, Patel made it clear that there would be zero tolerance for violence against law enforcement, particularly referencing the January 6 Capitol Riots. He emphasized, “Anyone who commits an act of violence against law enforcement should be investigated, prosecuted, and imprisoned.”
Patel also reaffirmed his commitment to exposing government corruption and pledged to continue holding officials accountable. He previously served as Deputy Assistant to the President on the National Security Council (NSC) and led efforts to combat terrorism during the Trump administration, focusing on eliminating Al-Qa’ida and ISIS leadership and securing the release of American hostages.
Patel Vows to Restore Transparency and Accountability to FBI
Following his confirmation, Patel expressed his gratitude and promised to rebuild the FBI into an agency that is “transparent, accountable, and committed to justice.” He thanked President Donald Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi for their unwavering support and emphasized the importance of restoring public trust in the FBI.
Sharing a post on X, Patel said, “I am honoured to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the FBI. The politicalization of our justice system has eroded public trust—but that ends today. We will rebuild an FBI that the American people can be proud of.”
Patel also vowed to “hunt down” those who seek to harm Americans, adding, “Mission First. America Always. Let’s get to work.”
White House Celebrates Confirmation as Crucial Step for Trump’s Agenda
The White House welcomed Patel’s confirmation as an important step in advancing President Trump’s agenda to restore integrity and uphold the rule of law. A post on X from the White House stated, “@FBIDirectorKash Patel’s confirmation is crucial to executing President Trump’s agenda. The FBI will now refocus on its core mission: enforcing justice fairly and without bias.”
President Trump Signs Commission to Confirm Patel
On the same day as the confirmation, Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff, shared that President Trump had officially signed the commission to confirm Patel as the ninth FBI Director. The signing ceremony took place in the Oval Office, with Scavino congratulating Patel via a post on X.
