Kash Patel Advances to Final Senate Vote

THE NEWS

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI, cleared a key hurdle Tuesday when the Senate voted 48-45 to open debate on his confirmation.

In his confirmation hearing, Patel pledged to “cut in half” the number of offenses committed across broad categories of crimes, including the “100,000 rapes … 100,000 drug overdoses from Chinese fentanyl and Mexican heroin, and … 17,000 homicides.”

If confirmed, Patel would serve a 10-year term as the nation’s top federal law enforcement officer under Attorney General Pam Bondi.

TIMELINE

• Early Career: Patel begins as a public defender in Florida, later serving as a federal prosecutor under the Obama administration.

• Congressional Staff: Works for Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) on the House Intelligence Committee, gaining prominence for investigating the Crossfire Hurricane probe.

• Trump Administration (First Term): Moves into national security roles, building a reputation for exposing alleged FBI and DOJ misconduct.

• November 2024: President Trump announces Kash Patel as his pick for FBI director, tasking him with “ending the crime epidemic” and “restoring integrity” to the bureau.

• Tuesday (Procedural Vote): Senate votes 48-45 along party lines to proceed, initiating up to 30 hours of debate. A final confirmation vote is expected Thursday.

REACTIONS

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa), Judiciary Committee Chairman: Highlights Patel’s “rigorous vetting,” praising his cooperation and thorough disclosure of records. Praises Patel’s role in uncovering alleged FBI abuses during the Crossfire Hurricane probe.

Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Judiciary Committee Ranking Member: Argues Patel perjured himself in his hearing, questioning the nominee’s ethics and truthfulness. Points to concerns about his influence over recent senior FBI firings after Trump took office.

Kash Patel (Nominee): Vows to “cut in half” certain categories of crimes, including drug overdoses and homicides, and to steer the FBI away from politics.

President Donald Trump: Praises Patel as the leader who will “bring back Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity” to the bureau. Touts Patel’s experience in exposing alleged wrongdoing within the FBI and DOJ.

Republican Senators: Commend Patel’s tough approach to crime and dedication to rooting out partisanship in the agency, predicting a swift confirmation.

WHAT'S NEXT

Kash Patel “has the votes” and will be confirmed later this week.