The Senate is set to vote this afternoon on the nomination of Kash Patel to serve as the director of the FBI.
Patel has been among Trump’s most controversial nominees, with several Democrats expressing consternation over conspiracy theories previously espoused by Patel and an “enemies list” of roughly 60 people he named in a memoir.
As they did with Trump’s other Cabinet picks, Senate Republicans appear ready to coalesce around Patel and have supported him throughout his confirmation process with minimal pushback.
During his confirmation hearing, Patel notably broke with Trump on the issue of Jan. 6 pardons, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee that he would not have pardoned anyone who committed a violent crime.
“I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement,” he said, specifically referring to violence against law enforcement on Jan. 6. “I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.”
