 "Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of the FBI, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington. AP File")
US Democrats on Thursday successfully delayed a key vote on Kash Patel’s nomination to lead the FBI amid a growing scandal over alleged Republican “enemies lists” intended to help President Donald Trump target his perceived adversaries.
According to AFP, the right-wing former lawyer has a track record of spreading misinformation about election fraud and public health, and he recently published a list of 60 Trump critics in a book that Democrats argue has placed them in danger.
The controversy intensified this week with a second “enemies list” issue, prompting the FBI to disclose the identities of agents who investigated the 2021 insurrection that resulted in Trump’s impeachment and indictment, added the report.
While the Judiciary Committee was poised to advance Patel’s nomination to the full Senate for a vote, Democrats called for a second hearing, alleging that Patel withheld information about Trump’s plans for retribution against the FBI.
“These actions have political retribution written all over them, and it will get worse if Kash Patel is named FBI director,” AFP quoted Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer saying as he slammed the FBI list and the nomination.
“The Senate should not rubber-stamp a patently partisan nominee like Kash Patel to lead the FBI… Either Mr. Patel serves the interests of the American people or serves the interests of Donald Trump,” he added.
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View AllThe minority party leveraged a rule in the Republican-led committee that permits a one-week delay for any nomination vote.
Following the hearing, Democrats accused Patel of misleading members by downplaying his involvement in a song recorded by insurrectionists who stormed the US Capitol on January 6, 2021. They also pointed out that he reposted a social media video showing him attacking Trump’s critics.
“Setting aside how grotesque that is, the idea that a man with the kind of judgment - that he thinks it’s okay to repost imagery of himself chainsawing his political enemies - (it) is not appropriate for an FBI director,” AFP quoted Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse as saying.
‘Innuendo and misinformation’
Patel is one of several Trump nominees for intelligence and law enforcement positions who have faced criticism for character flaws, inexperience, and poor judgment during a series of contentious Senate confirmation hearings.
His committee approval hearing is now expected to take place next Thursday, where just two Republican “no” votes could prevent his nomination from advancing to the Senate floor with a favourable report.
However, Trump holds significant influence over Republicans in Congress, and party senators have shown little willingness to challenge the individuals selected for the Republican leader’s national security team.
There were fiery exchanges at Patel’s confirmation hearing on January 30 as Democrats brought up a list of 60 supposed “deep state” actors - all critics of Trump - he included in a 2022 book, whom he said should be investigated or “otherwise reviled.”
Patel has denied that he has an “enemies list” and told the committee he was merely interested in bringing lawbreakers to book.
Texas Republican Senator Ted Cruz slammed what he termed “baseless attacks and political theater” targeting Patel as he accused the nominee’s critics of having “peddled innuendo and misinformation.”
“At the end of the day, what is really striking, is none of them made a serious argument that Kash Patel is not qualified,” Fox News quoted Cruz as saying.
“His experience is extensive and what they are afraid of is that Kash Patel will do exactly what Donald Trump promised,” he added.
With inputs from agencies