Kash Patel’s Political Journey

Kash Patel’s rise to prominence as a key political figure was not immediately apparent in his earlier career. Starting out as a composed federal prosecutor and national security lawyer at the Justice Department, Patel’s outlook transformed significantly when he became involved in the FBI’s inquiry into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. A senior national security colleague who worked alongside Patel during this period noted this significant shift in his demeanor.

At first, Patel was hesitant about stepping into a role that would fundamentally alter his views on the FBI. It was a serendipitous meeting with Republican Congressman Devin Nunes, facilitated by a mutual acquaintance shortly after Donald Trump’s election victory—clouded by accusations of Russian interference—that set the stage for his future involvement. As the chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Nunes was gearing up to scrutinize the FBI’s handling of this politically charged investigation.

Recognizing Patel’s expertise in terrorism cases and his role as a legal liaison with Joint Special Operations Command, Nunes extended an invitation for Patel to join the Russia investigation. Initially, Patel declined, aiming instead for a position on the National Security Council, as recounted in his memoir, “Government Gangsters.” However, Nunes persuaded him, promising to advocate for him to secure a role within Trump’s administration if he participated in the inquiry.

Eventually, Patel accepted Nunes’s offer, and within a year, he teamed up with South Carolina Congressman Trey Gowdy to produce the controversial “Nunes memo.” This document criticized the FBI’s rationale for obtaining a secret warrant to surveil Carter Page, a minor foreign policy advisor for Trump’s 2016 campaign, who was suspected of having ties to Russian intelligence.

As he began his investigation, Patel expected to uncover significant incriminating evidence against Page within the FBI’s warrant applications. Instead, he discovered an over-reliance on questionable opposition research memos that were funded by supporters of Hillary Clinton and created by former British MI6 agent Christopher Steele.

Patel’s critical perspective on the FBI’s conduct was not unique. In December 2019, the Department of Justice’s inspector general, Michael Horowitz, reported 17 instances of misconduct by the FBI related to the warrant process, underscoring “serious performance failures” by the agents involved.

Though Horowitz found no evidence of political bias in the FBI’s failures, Patel suspected darker motivations were at play. He came to believe that the “Russia Gate scandal” showcased the actions of “government gangsters” within the FBI, employing methods of entrapment and extortion akin to organized crime, as he articulated in his writings. This conviction not only deepened his critique of the FBI but also aligned him more closely with Trump.

Following the release of the inspector general’s report, Nunes kept his word, and Patel was appointed to the National Security Council, where he ultimately achieved his aspiration of becoming the senior director for counterterrorism. In his memoir, he describes how his initial meetings with Trump in the Oval Office were overshadowed by awe but eventually evolved into a robust relationship that surpassed typical boundaries. A senior official noted that Patel earned a reputation for bypassing the conventional chain of command in the White House, having established “a direct line” to Trump.

This direct connection could prove crucial for Trump. If Patel receives Senate confirmation, the author of a book that critiques political interference at the FBI may usher in a new era of politically motivated actions. Trump has indicated intentions to leverage the Department of Justice to target his political adversaries. Patel has expressed ambitions to overhaul the upper echelons of the FBI and has proposed relocating the FBI headquarters outside of Washington, D.C. He has also suggested that he would “come after” journalists.

However, Patel’s confirmation is far from certain. Current FBI Director Christopher Wray, appointed by Trump in 2017, has nearly three years left on his ten-year term and would need to resign or be removed for Patel to assume the role.

Skepticism about Patel’s capacity to lead 10,000 special agents at the FBI, tasked with protecting the public from terrorism, organized crime, political corruption, and foreign threats such as those posed by China, remains prevalent in the Senate. Trump’s former Defense Secretary, Mark Esper, criticized Patel in his own memoir, asserting that he jeopardized a SEAL Team Six mission to rescue an American hostage in Nigeria by falsely claiming approval from the Nigerian government before it was granted. Furthermore, when Trump attempted to appoint Patel as deputy FBI director during his first term, then-Attorney General Bill Barr reportedly opposed the move strongly. Republican Senator Susan Collins from Maine has indicated her desire to hear Patel testify publicly before making any decisions, and she intends to review his FBI background check.