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President Trump’s pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, is now facing a weeklong delay in the Senate Judiciary Committee’s confirmation vote, drawing ire from supporters who would like to see the confirmation process executed on a faster timeline.
According to The Hill, Democrats asked for the delay, which is within the boundaries of the panel’s rules.
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, noted recently that he would not allow any more confirmation hearings, given Patel’s five-hour-long committee testimony last week. “The Senate Judiciary Committee will not fall for Democrats’ delay tactics. I intend to hold a final committee vote on Patel’s nomination as soon as next week,” he said, per the outlet.
Patel has been a staunch ally of President Trump. He formerly served as the chief of staff to the acting U.S. secretary of defense during the first Trump administration.
Regarding the delay on his confirmation vote in committee, Sen. Markwayne Mullin, R-Okla., remained confident that Patel would be the next FBI director.
The senator wrote on X on Thursday, “Unbelievable. Democrat Senators are running scared. They’re terrified that @Kash_Patel is going to reform the 7th floor of the Hoover Building, arrest bad guys, and end 4 years of liberal weaponized government. Delay tactics are just that. Kash WILL BE CONFIRMED.”
Patel has garnered broad support among Trump supporters and even among former FBI agents. In December, a group of retired FBI special agents signed a letter in support of Patel’s nomination and sent it to Judiciary Committee members, according to Fox News.
“Mr. Patel has proven he possesses the breadth of experience required to address these challenges. His leadership, expertise, and vision make him uniquely qualified to guide the FBI through this pivotal moment,” the letter – signed by more than 50 retired agents – stated.
A large number of the president’s nominees have been confirmed over the past several weeks, including Attorney General Pam Bondi, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. (nominee for Secretary of Health and Human Services) and Tulsi Gabbard (nominee for Director of National Intelligence) are both waiting on final floor votes.
