Controversial figure officially becomes FBI director

The US Senate on February 20 confirmed Mr. Kash Patel, who has threatened to pursue political enemies of US President Donald Trump, as director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), according to AFP.

Mr. Trump's appointment of Mr. Patel (45 years old) as FBI director caused fierce opposition from the Democratic Party, but was ultimately approved by the US Senate (controlled by the Republican Party) with a vote of 51-49.

The vote was split, with Republican senators Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voting not to confirm Mr Patel as head of the FBI, America's top law enforcement agency with 38,000 employees.

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Mr. Patel has been criticized by Democrats for promoting conspiracy theories, defending pro-Trump rioters who attacked the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and vowing to eliminate members of a "deep state" believed to be plotting against the US leader, according to AFP.

In a statement on social network X, Mr. Patel said he was honored to become FBI director. "The American people deserve an FBI that is transparent, accountable, and committed to justice," he emphasized.

Mr. Kash Patel at the hearing of the US Senate Judiciary Committee on January 30.

“The politicization of our justice system has eroded public trust, but that ends today. My mission as director is clear: let good cops be cops, and rebuild trust in the FBI,” Patel wrote on X.

"And to those who seek to harm Americans, let this be a warning to you. We will hunt you down in every corner of the planet," he continued.

Mr. Patel, the son of Indian immigrants and a former federal prosecutor, held several senior positions in Mr. Trump’s first administration, including senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council.

There were heated exchanges at Mr Patel's confirmation hearings last month when Democrats released a list of 60 alleged "deep state" figures, all of whom were critical of Mr Trump. Mr Patel denied having an "enemies list" and told the US Senate Judiciary Committee that he was only interested in bringing those who broke the law to justice. "All FBI employees will be protected from political retaliation," Mr Patel said.

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The FBI has been in turmoil since Mr. Trump was inaugurated as the 47th president of the United States on January 20. Several agents have been fired or demoted, including some involved in the prosecution of Mr. Trump for trying to overturn the 2020 election results and mishandling classified documents, according to AFP.

Nine FBI agents have sued the Justice Department to block efforts to gather information about agents investigating Trump and the Capitol riot. In the lawsuit, the FBI agents argue that the efforts are part of a “purge” orchestrated by Trump as “politically motivated retaliation.”

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