Trump Nominates Kash Patel For FBI Director

President-elect Donald Trump has announced that he will nominate Kash Patel to replace Christopher Wray as the head of the FBI. Patel has been a vocal critic of the bureau and has called for significant changes, including shutting down the agency's Washington headquarters and reducing its authority. Trump praised Patel as a "brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter" who has spent his career exposing corruption and defending justice. Patel has proposed various changes, including limiting the FBI's footprint in Washington and curbing the power of the Justice Department's Civil Division. He has also vowed to aggressively hunt down government officials who leak information to reporters and change the law to make it easier to sue journalists. Patel has served as a federal prosecutor, public defender, and held administrative roles in the National Security Council and the Pentagon during Trump's first term. Former Attorney General William Barr and former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe have expressed opposition to Patel's potential appointment, with McCabe stating that no part of the FBI would be "safe" with Patel in a leadership position. Patel has responded to criticism by challenging his opponents to provide evidence of any constitutional violations or ethical wrongdoing on his part. If confirmed, Patel would likely investigate and possibly prosecute journalists who he believes have lied about American citizens or helped rig presidential elections. Current FBI Director Christopher Wray will either have to resign or be fired if Patel's nomination is successful.