I’m a former FBI agent. Kash Patel’s problems go beyond his incompetence.
His record shows no devotion to the Constitution, but blind allegiance to Trump.

On Saturday evening, as many Americans were polishing off Thanksgiving leftovers, President-elect Donald Trump served up a dish too tough to digest. On his Truth Social platform, Trump announced his choice of Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Many of Trump’s nominees have substantial baggage, but the Patel pick tells us the most about Trump’s plan to subjugate the rule of law to his own rules — minus the law part.

It isn’t just that Patel is wholly unqualified to lead the pre-eminent law enforcement and intelligence agency in the nation and perhaps the world. Yes, he lacks the professional experience needed to lead the bureau’s 37,000 employees in 55 U.S. field offices, 350 satellite offices and 63 locations abroad that cover nearly 200 countries. But that’s the least of my concerns. After all, Trump’s picks for homeland security secretary, director of national intelligence and defense secretary are also remarkably lacking in competency for their proposed roles. Trump’s first choice for attorney general was so problematic that he withdrew from consideration before the Senate confirmation process could begin.