1. United States
2. Tenn.
3. Letter

President-elect Trump's nomination of Kash Patel as FBI director raises serious concerns and should not be confirmed by the Senate. Patel is a highly controversial figure with a troubling record of undermining democratic institutions and rule of law. Former Trump officials like John Bolton have warned that Patel will politicize and weaponize the FBI against the president's perceived enemies. The FBI is intended to be an independent law enforcement agency, not a partisan political tool for the White House. Installing a Trump loyalist like Patel as director would severely damage the bureau's integrity and public trust. Additionally, the current FBI director Christopher Wray's term does not expire until 2027, making Trump's attempt to prematurely replace him with an unqualified partisan highly irregular and undemocratic. Senators have a duty to protect the independence of the justice system from political interference. Confirming Patel would represent an unprecedented erosion of democratic norms and the separation of powers. The Senate must reject this reckless nomination and safeguard the impartiality of the nation's premier law enforcement agency. Prioritizing partisan loyalty over professional qualification puts the entire justice system at risk of being corrupted for political vendettas.