No. of Recommendations: 2
So many awful nominees coming from Trump, it would be hard to say who's the worst. But Patel must be near the top of such a list.
Kash Patel
I promise to be your friendly neighborhood FBI director!
The controversial nominee for FBI director also had his confirmation hearing this week and, like others, promised that he would not do what he has specifically said he wants to do many times over recent years. He denied that he has an “enemies list” in his book, instead calling it a “glossary.” Well, sure, it’s a glossary of “deep state” people he despises. He denied in his hearing that he’d seek retribution against figures in either the media or the government, despite having said in a 2023 podcast episode that “we will go out and find the conspirators not just in government but in the media” and that “we’re going to come after you … whether it’s criminally or civilly.” In Patel’s words on Thursday, “I have no interest, no desire, and will not, if confirmed, go backwards”; he added, “There will be no politicization at the FBI. There will be no retributive actions taken.” With lines like these, we have truly crossed from bullshit into unreality. The things Patel is saying he won’t do are the very things Patel was hired to do. The retribution against FBI agents and leaders is already underway and was picking up while Patel was in his hearing. What’s the point of these hearings if nominees can just recant everything they’ve said for the past several years? It’s to give Republican senators a small bit of cover to approve their nominations. Being convincing has nothing to do with it. Slate
