Durbin: Kash Patel Has Neither The Experience, Temperament, Nor Judgement To Lead The FBI

Durbin: Kash Patel Has Neither The Experience, Temperament, Nor Judgement To Lead The FBI

WASHINGTON - In a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today outlined how Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has neither the experience, the temperament, nor the judgment to lead the FBI. Durbin met with Mr. Patel in his Capitol office yesterday.

"It [the FBI] plays a critical role in keeping Americans safe from terrorism, violent crime, and other threats. The person who is in charge of our nation's leading law enforcement organization-the FBI-should be someone who is nonpartisan, solid, reliable, with demonstrated skill in law enforcement. We were reminded of this on 9/11-that the FBI is the leading agency that we, in America, rely upon to keep us safe. The 30,000 professionals at the FBI have the skills and resources to do the job. They deserve a leader who understands the gravity of their mission," Durbin said. "After meeting with Kash Patel, I have grave concerns about his fitness for the role of FBI Director. Mr. Patel has neither the experience, the temperament, nor the judgment to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation."

Durbin then explained Mr. Patel's extreme views and his plans for the FBI, should he be confirmed.

"He [Mr. Patel] is a staunch political loyalist who has repeatedly peddled false conspiracy theories and threatened to retaliate against those who have slighted him personally and politically. Let's start with January 6th. I was here in the Senate that day. I will always be grateful to the U.S. Capitol police and D.C. police officers who defended everyone who works in this building from an angry mob that was egged on by President Trump… But Kash Patel, the man who claims he should lead the FBI, actually says the FBI 'was planning January 6 for a year.' And he posted on social media: 'Jan. 6 never an insurrection: cowards in uniform exposed.' Let me say those words again-'cowards in uniform.' That's what Mr. Patel said. I asked him about that statement in my office yesterday. He couldn't explain it."

Durbin continued, "What about Mr. Patel's plans for the FBI? … He said he wants to 'shut down the F.B.I. Hoover Building on Day 1 and reopen it the next day as a museum of the 'deep state.''' And he has said, 'We're going to come after the people in the media … We're going to come after you, whether it's criminally or civilly. … we're putting you all on notice.' This is the man who wants to head up the FBI and I'm quoting exactly what he said. He's even published an enemies list of 60 people who he calls 'government gangsters.' … Does this sound like the resume of a person who should lead Federal Bureau of Investigation?"

Durbin went on to outline the need for an independent FBI Director.

"In 1976, Congress passed a law limiting the FBI Director to a single term of 10 years, intending to insulate this position from political influence. But President Trump has repeatedly tried to bend the FBI Director to his political agenda. He fired his first FBI Director, Jim Comey. He forced out his second FBI Director, Chris Wray, when he refused to do his bidding," Durbin said. "Now President Trump has nominated a proven loyalist in Kash Patel. In a 2019 meeting, Patel reportedly told President Trump in the Oval Office that he wanted to expand his portfolio to ensure White House personnel were 'completely loyal to the administration.'"

Durbin concluded, "Mr. Patel's political grievances make him a favorite of the MAGA world. But they have not prepared him to work night and day to keep America safe from violent crime, drug trafficking, terrorism, and other threats. Mr. Patel's endless list of political grievances and well-documented threats of retribution are disqualifying… Mr. Patel is not the person for this life and death assignment."

Video of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here.

Audio of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here.

Footage of Durbin's remarks on the floor is available here for TV Stations.

Earlier this month, Durbin sent letters to the Department of Defense (DOD), the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), and the Department of Justice (DOJ) requesting they produce all relevant materials related to Mr. Patel's alleged misconduct with respect to those agencies. Mr. Patel has held several previous roles in the Executive Branch as a career civil servant and a political appointee at DOD, ODNI, DOJ, and the White House National Security Council (NSC). In each role, Mr. Patel has faced accusations of either misconduct or conspiracy with another official during his tenure. These accusations include:

• Impeding the transition between the first Trump Administration and the Biden Administration;
• Politicizing the declassification process to benefit then-President Trump; and
• Working with Jeffrey Clark to identify a "trustworthy" FBI agent to aid Clark's efforts to use DOJ to subvert the 2020 election.

Durbin's letter to DOJ additionally requested records related to any other allegations of misconduct, including criminal referrals from other agencies, during Mr. Patel's time in federal service. Durbin requested specific materials from each agency be provided as soon as possible.

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