Washington DC, February 21 (HS): The Senate voted on Thursday to confirm 44-year-old Kash Patel as FBI director, installing a staunch loyalist of President Donald Trump and conservative firebrand at the head of the nation’s top law enforcement Agency. With this, he has become the first Indian-American to become the FBI chief. Patel has previously held important responsibilities in the Department of Defense as Chief of Staff and Deputy Director of National Intelligence.
The Senate voted 51 to 49 to confirm Patel with Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joining with Democrats in voting against his confirmation.
Kash Patel is counted among the close associates of former US President Donald Trump. Mixed reactions were seen in the Senate regarding his nomination. However, in the end the Republican Party senators supported him and he got approval.
Patel replaces Christopher Wray who Trump picked in 2017. Wray resigned before inauguration day last month, after the incoming Republican president indicated he would fire him.
As a Republican congressional aide and Trump national security staffer, Patel fought to declassify and release documents to try to undercut the FBI’s investigation into connections between Russia and the 2016 Trump campaign.
Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar
