Donald Trump finished the appointment process in the three weeks since he won the Presidential Election of 2024, with the very disturbing appointment of Kash Patel, an extreme loyalist, as new head of the FBI, effectively shortening the ten year term of Christopher Wray that he made upon taking office in his first term in 2017.
The FBI’s past included the corrupt leadership of J. Edgar Hoover from 1924-1972, but with the agency having been reformed in the half cantury since then.
But now a lot of the corruption and abuse of power of that half century is likely to return, as Patel has made it clear he is out to pursue revenge against those who pursued the scandals and corruption of Trump in his first term, which led to two impeachments and four indictments.
Patel has threatened retribution against “deep state” officials he plans to target. He has also attacked the news media, therefore potentially making the FBI an agency out of control, with the intent of “cleaning house” in that agency and setting out to prosecute those he considers “enemies” of Donald Trump who “caused” his prosecutions, including the events of January 6, 2021.
Patel would need to be confirmed by the US Senate, and he adds to the list of highly objectionable nominees, and the question arises, how many, if any of these individuals, can be rejected by the Senate and yet not be put into office by so called “recess” appointments!