Donald Trump wants to put a MAGA extremist and “deep state” conspiracist named Kash Patel in charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.

Patel has been brazen in announcing his intention to weaponize the FBI against government officials, journalists, nonprofit groups, and the American people.

Here’s what Patel said on Steve Bannon’s podcast:

“We’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about American citizens, who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections. We’re going to come after you.”

You can find hundreds of news stories about how bad it would be to put Patel in charge of the FBI (or of anything, really).

But this just about says it all:

• In Trump’s first term, he tried to install Patel as second-in-command at the FBI.

• That move was blocked by Bill Barr.

• Yes, that Bill Barr — Trump’s hand-picked Attorney General, who was one of Trump’s most reliable defenders in his first term.

• Barr said, quote, “Over my dead body.”

• How unqualified and potentially calamitous must Patel be if even Bill Barr didn’t want him?

We want to be absolutely clear about something:

The FBI has a vital role in maintaining the rule of law. But, as an institution, it also has a long, shameful, and ongoing history of discrimination, corruption, and brutality. It has persecuted everyday Americans for the “crime” of standing up to power while repeatedly letting massive criminality by billionaires and Big Business slide.

Look, it’s not as if Trump is going to pick anyone good for any of these critical positions.

And we know it’s like a game of Whac-A-Mole right now with Trump’s absurd and unhinged picks for his second presidency.

All of that being said, Kash Patel must not be confirmed as FBI director, where he would turn the bureau into a machine of vengeance on behalf of Donald Trump.

Also, by the way, current FBI Director Christopher Wray — who was appointed by Donald Trump himself — has almost two years left in what is supposed to be a ten-year term. (That ten-year term for FBI directors is specifically meant to avoid politicization of the bureau.)

Like so many of Trump’s outlandish and dangerous picks, Patel must be voted on by the Senate.

To the United States Senate:

Do not approve Kash Patel for FBI director.

Click to add your name now.

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For justice,

- Lisa Gilbert & Robert Weissman, Co-Presidents of Public Citizen
 
 
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