FBI nominee Kash Patel confirmed in narrow Senate vote
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Senate Confirms Kash Patel as FBI Director
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Above: Now confirmed US FBI Director Kash Patel arrives to testify during his confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building on Jan. 30, 2025 in Washington, DC. Image copyright: Anna Moneymaker/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The US Senate voted to confirm Kash Patel as FBI director by a narrow margin of 51-49 on Thursday, with every Democrat and two Republicans — Sens. Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins — voting against Pres. Donald Trump's nominee.
Patel — who served under the acting Defense Secretary and as a senior adviser to the acting director of national intelligence during Trump's first administration, and as a counterterrorism official during the Obama administration — faced scrutiny over his past statements.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel promised there would be "no politicization at the FBI" and "no retributive actions," while distancing himself from previous statements about shutting down FBI headquarters. He was also accused of keeping a list of "deep state" enemies, which he denied.
The Spin
Right narrative
Despite treacherous opposition from so-called Republicans like Susan Collins, Patel persevered, achieving a huge win for America. FBI whistleblowers, who were persecuted for exposing corruption, are rejoicing as Patel vows to restore integrity and trust. With a mandate to dismantle the agency’s partisan rot, Patel is poised to work relentlessly to rebuild the FBI into a transparent, accountable force for justice.
Left narrative
Unfortunately, Collins and Murkowski were the only Republicans brave enough to say no to authoritarianism. Kash Patel’s confirmation as FBI director, opposed by dozens of lawmakers, is alarming. His vengeful enemies list, alleged directives to purge the agency, and history of perjury signal a politicized FBI. Unfit and divisive, Patel now has the power to make good on his threat to wield the agency as a weapon of retribution, not justice.
