South Carolina Republican Representative Lindsey Graham expressed his readiness to support the confirmation of Kash Patel as the next director of the FBI. In a recent interview on CBS, Graham commended Patel and expressed confidence that the Republican-majority U.S. Senate would endorse his nomination.
Host Margaret Brennan initiated the discussion by inquiring about the Senate’s stance, noting that Patel’s confirmation hearing has yet to be scheduled. She referenced Bill Barr’s 2022 memoir, in which Barr criticized Patel, stating, “he’s someone with no background as an agent, would never be able to command the respect necessary to run the day-to-day operations of the bureau. He has virtually no experience that would qualify him to serve at the highest level of the world’s preeminent law enforcement agency. The idea of moving him into a role like this showed a shocking detachment from reality.” Brennan then asked Graham if Barr was mistaken in his assessment.
Graham firmly disagreed, asserting, “Yes, I believe he was wrong then and he is wrong now. I rely on the insights of Kash Patel from my close friend Trey Gowdy, who has worked alongside him. Kash has served as a public defender and a prosecutor, and he collaborated with Trey Gowdy on matters related to the Russia investigation. Therefore, I believe he possesses the necessary experience. He has the president’s trust, and we will observe how this unfolds. Trey Gowdy’s enthusiastic support for Kash Patel is significant to me.”
Brennan then pointed out that Patel has published a list of adversaries in a book, which includes notable figures such as the FBI director, Defense Secretary Austin, Bill Barr, former White House Counsel Pat Cipollone, former CIA Director Gina Haspel, and the head of CENTCOM.
Below is a transcript of the exchange:
Graham: “Well, we’re going to — well — yes.”
BRENNAN: “I mean, do you take him at his word here that — that these are an enemies list and you’re going to put him in a law enforcement role to go after him?”
Graham: “I — I believe the hearing will expose him to be a very qualified man of the law. He wrote a book. He’ll have to answer questions about what’s in the book. But I’m ready to vote for him because I know him, too. See, he never asked me about the Russia hoax that he exposed. People on the right believe that he was part of the solution, not the problem. You asked a good question of Brett, has Israel suffered because of this war, they went too far, on the world stage? Here’s what’s happened on the world stage. The International Criminal Court is going to be sanctioned by the Congress —”
BRENNAN: “Well, that’s a —”
Graham: “Republicans and Democrats, because they’re trying to prosecute the prime minister, defense minister of Israel.”
BRENNAN: “Lindsey, this a — Lindsey Graham, this is a far cry from the question about Kash Patel. You took me all the way to Israel from Kash Patel.”
Graham: “Yes, well, let’s get back to Kash Patel.”
BRENNAN: “Are you — you’re committing to vote for him no matter what?”
Graham: Yes, we’re not — I won’t say no matter what, but I —”
BRENNAN: “You are going to vote for Kash Patel?”
Graham: “Yes, I am ready to vote for Kash Patel because you will never ask me —”
BRENNAN: “OK.”
Graham: “The role he played in exposing the darkest moment of the FBI since Edgar — J. Edgar Hoover. That’s why I trust him.”
