Kash Patel, President-elect Donald J. Trump’s choice to lead the FBI, lacks typical experience for the position. As a former federal prosecutor and public defender, Patel has limited management and law enforcement experience. Trump cited his efforts to discredit the Justice Department’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as key credentials.
Patel’s background has raised concerns among former colleagues, who question his qualifications. His former supervisor, Michael Caruso, described him as a “middling performer” who shied away from filing motions likely to lose. Patel also claimed to be the lead prosecutor in the Benghazi attack case, despite being a junior staff member at the time.
Patel is known for writing the “Nunes Memo,” which contributed to the conspiracy theory that politics drove the Russia investigation. He was also proposed as a “political executioner” to vet White House aides for loyalty, but this plan was scrapped due to concerns over legality and morale.
In addition to his public criticism of the Justice Department, Patel has used his association with Trump to promote lucrative ventures. He founded a nonprofit that received millions in funding, and sells pro-Trump merchandise under the “K$H” logo. Patel also collected significant consulting fees from the 2024 Trump campaign and Friends of Matt Gaetz.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/30/us/politics/kash-patel.html