President-Elect Donald Trump on Saturday named loyal supporter and former staffer Kash Patel as his nomination for FBI director.
If affirmed by the US Senate, Patel would replace Christopher Wray, whom Mr. Trump named to the position back in 2017.
Wray has been the subject of criticism from Trump, especially since the FBI raided Trump property in Florida in a search for classified documents, followed by indictments.
Kashyap "Kash" Patel, 44, from Garden City, NY, has in the past called for a major changes at the Federal Bureau of Investigation, including investigations into those who leak information and materials, and has vowed to investigate people "in the media who lied about American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections," referring to the 2020 Presidential election.
Trump is tasking him with "ending the growing crime epidemic," dismantling "migrant criminal gangs" and stopping "human and drug trafficking across the border," saying Patel will bring "Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity" back to the FBI.
Known as a fierce opponent of the "Deep State," the attorney is the son of Indian immigrants to the US and has spent several years as a public defender and as a US Department of Justice prosecutor.
Patel's suspicions about the FBI began during the "Russiagate" scandal, adding to his previous distrust of news media and the intelligence community, which he has referred to as a "powerful enemy" of the US.
Also on Saturday Trump said he would nominate Hillsborough County, Florida, Sheriff Chad Chronister as the administrator of the Drug Enforcement Agency.
The sheriff has racked up more than 22 years as a law officer in the county that includes the city of Tampa and has been sheriff for 7 years.