Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the US Senate Judiciary Committee, has accused President Donald Trump’s FBI director nominee, Kash Patel, of secretly orchestrating the removal of senior bureau officials before his confirmation.
Durbin stated on Tuesday that multiple whistleblowers informed him of Patel’s alleged involvement in overseeing the firings, prompting him to request an urgent investigation by Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz.
“This alleged misconduct is beyond the pale and must be investigated immediately,” Durbin wrote in a letter to the inspector general, stressing that Patel, who holds no official government position, should not have the authority to direct employment actions against FBI leadership.
Patel’s spokesperson, Erica Knight, dismissed the allegations as “second-hand gossip,” calling him a “highly qualified national security expert” who has been transparent throughout the nomination process. The FBI declined to comment, while the White House and Justice Department have yet to respond.
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to vote on Patel’s nomination on Thursday. During his confirmation hearing, Patel denied knowledge of any efforts to dismiss or retaliate against FBI personnel involved in investigations related to Trump. If the allegations are true, Durbin suggested Patel may have perjured himself.
Following Patel’s hearing, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove fired eight senior FBI officials and directed Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll to provide a list of employees involved in January 6 investigations. The Justice Department’s request led to lawsuits from two FBI agent groups, fearing their names could be publicly exposed, putting them at risk.
The Justice Department has since agreed not to release the names and to provide plaintiffs with a 48-hour notice if that decision changes.
