Donald Trump Appoints Kash Patel to Lead FBI, Here's His Profile and Career Journey

December 3, 2024 | 09:23 am

TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - U.S. President-elect from the Republican Party Donald Trump said on Saturday, November 30, 2024, that he wants former National Security official and loyalist Kash Patel to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation or FBI, indicating his intention to dismiss the current bureau director, Christopher Wray.

Patel previously served as an advisor to the National Intelligence Director and Defense Minister during Trump's first term. He once called on FBI to release its intelligence collection role and clean its ranks of employees who refuse to support Trump's agenda.

Who is Kash Patel?

Kashyap 'Kash' Patel, born on February 25, 1980, is an American lawyer and former federal prosecutor at the US Department of Justice. He previously served as Chief of Staff to the US Defense Minister during Donald Trump's first presidency and also held positions in the US National Security Council and as a senior advisor to the acting Director of National Intelligence. In November 2024, President-elect Donald Trump announced Patel as a candidate for FBI Director.

Kash Patel is a member of the Republican Party and worked as a senior assistant to Congressman Devin Nunes while Nunes was Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee. In his role, Patel played a key role in supporting investigations related to Donald Trump and allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election. In 2018, he contributed to drafting Nunes' memo alleging errors in the surveillance warrant application against Trump's campaign aide, Carter Page, sparking controversy.

Before embarking on a political career, Patel worked as a defense attorney and federal prosecutor in national security. He also served as a legal liaison for the US Armed Forces. Patel also authored the book Government Gangsters, which largely consists of a memoir and criticism of the deep state.

Born in Garden City, New York, of Indian immigrant parents, Patel was raised with Hindu values. He pursued education in history and criminal justice at the University of Richmond, Virginia, and obtained a Juris Doctor degree from Pace University School of Law in New York. After completing his legal education, he began his career as a public defender in Florida, handling various major criminal cases.

In 2014, Patel joined the National Security Division of the Department of Justice, before eventually becoming a senior advisor in counter-terrorism at the House Intelligence Committee in 2017. Major political decisions he made include supporting investigations into the 2016 election, and after the Democratic Party took over the House in 2019, Patel worked for the House Oversight and Reform Committee.

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