A growing number of Republican U.S. senators are optimistic about Kash Patel’s chances in confirmation hearings, with the brash former intelligence official garnering unlikely praise from some of the chamber’s most moderate voices.
Count Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) among those keeping an open mind about Patel heading up the FBI. Patel, a close ally of President-elect Donald Trump, was tapped on Saturday to replace Christopher Wray as Director of the Bureau, an appointment which would give the president-elect a death grip on the agency he has long complained investigated him on false or trumped-up charges. On Monday Collins signaled to Politico that she believes Patel, 44, has a lengthy resumé that deserves careful review.
“I don’t know Kash Patel,” Collins said. “I had heard his name, but I don’t know his background, and I’m going to have to do a lot of work before reaching a decision on him. In general, I’ve found it’s important to review the background check, the committee work and the public hearing.”
Her comments are striking given her public criticisms of Matt Gaetz, President Trump’s initial pick for U.S. attorney general who last week withdrew from consideration.
Patel is seen by many observers to be the most MAGA of Trump’s current nominees and the one who is likeliest to face headwinds in front of a more stoic Republican majority.
Wray, who was appointed by Trump in 2017 to a 10-year term, would be usurped by Patel if the confirmation goes through. President Trump can only afford to lose three Republican votes in the Senate; in addition to Collins, other vulnerable votes are predicted to be those of Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Joni Ernst (R-IA), and Thom Tillis (R-NC), the latter of whom said he is meeting with Patel this week and is “in a presumptive positive position” over the nomination “right now.”
“I do think he will be able to get confirmed, absolutely,” Sen. Ernst said about Patel. Her comments are the opposite from those she made about Pete Hegseth, President-elect Trump’s pick to head up the Defense Department.
Part of the discussions around Patel will involve Wray’s job performance. Several Senate Republicans said over the weekend they see no problem with how the current director is handling his duties despite Trump’s anger at Wray for authorizing investigations into the false allegation that his 2016 campaign colluded with Russian actors.
“We provide advice and consent,” Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) said on ABC’s “This Week.”
“That can be sometimes advice, sometimes it is consent.” Sen. Collins added in her remarks on Monday she believes Wray has done a “good job” at the Bureau.
Still, there are plenty of other Senate Republicans who are salivating at the prospect of Patel taking the reins. “Kash Patel would be perfect to clean house over there,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) told the outlet.
