Trump taps loyalist Kash Patel as choice for FBI director

President-elect Donald Trump announced he would pick Kash Patel, the former chief of staff to to the acting secretary of defense during the first Trump administration, to serve as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

President-elect Donald Trump announced Saturday he would pick Kashyap "Kash" Patel, a 44-year-old loyalist with little management experience in federal law enforcement, to serve as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

"Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending Justice, and protecting the American People," Trump wrote in a post to Truth Social. "He played a pivotal role in uncovering the Russia, Russia, Russia Hoax, standing as an advocate for truth, accountability, and the Constitution."

Patel, who will have to win Senate confirmation to become FBI director, has earned a reputation as an extreme Trump loyalist who has spread baseless "deep state" conspiracy theories and called for a purge of perceived Trump enemies from the FBI.

"It is the honor of a lifetime to be nominated by President Trump to serve as Director of the FBI," Patel said in a statement. "Together, we will restore integrity, accountability, and equal justice to our justice system and return the FBI to its rightful mission: protecting the American people."

The nomination of Patel, who worked as a federal prosecutor in Washington and a public defender in Florida, is likely to again put pressure on Senate Republicans who signaled earlier this month they would reject Matt Gaetz as Trump's pick for attorney general.

https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/national-security/trump-taps-kash-patel-fbi-director-rcna179736

---