Kash Patel, a Trump loyalist, was confirmed as the head of the FBI with a 51 to 49 vote in the Senate. All Democrats and two Republicans opposed his confirmation, voicing concerns about his lack of law enforcement experience and doubts about his commitment to the FBI’s independence. Patel has previously made false claims regarding the FBI’s investigation into potential ties between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. During his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, he avoided questions about investigating individuals on an “enemies list” mentioned in his book, raising further apprehensions among senators regarding his suitability for the role.
| Vote | Total | Democrats | Republicans | Independents | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 51 | 0 | 51 | 0 | ||
| 49 | 45 | 2 | 2 |
Note: Confirmation requires a simple majority of voting senators.
Kash Patel, a staunch supporter of President Trump, received confirmation to lead the nation’s foremost federal law enforcement agency with a vote count of 51 to 49. All Democrats along with two Republicans opposed his confirmation. Throughout the confirmation hearings, various senators voiced concerns regarding Mr. Patel’s limited law enforcement background and questioned his ability to ensure the independence of the F.B.I.
Mr. Patel has historically made unfounded claims regarding the agency’s probe into potential connections between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. During his testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, he deflected inquiries about whether he planned to investigate individuals listed as adversaries in his book “Government Gangsters.”
How Each Member Voted
Republicans
| Member | Answer |
|---|---|
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No N |
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No N |
|
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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|
Yes Y |
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|
Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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Yes Y |
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|
Yes Y |
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|
Yes Y |
Democrats
| Member | Answer |
|---|---|
|
No N |
|
|
No N |
|
|
No N |
|
|
No N |
|
|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
|
|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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|
No N |
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No N |
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|
No N |