Conduct oversight to safeguard FBI independence, rule of law

The appointment of Dan Bongino, a conservative podcaster with no FBI experience, as Deputy FBI Director raises serious concerns about the politicization of the agency. Under Bongino and Director Kash Patel, the FBI seems poised to discard its core mission of law enforcement and instead become a political arm of the White House aimed at furthering the President's agenda and targeting his critics. This is unacceptable in a democracy committed to the rule of law. The FBI has immense powers of surveillance and intelligence gathering that must be exercised impartially and free from political interference. Installing Trump loyalists at the highest levels jeopardizes the integrity of the agency and the privacy and safety of all Americans. Furthermore, the announced plans to relocate 1,500 FBI employees from Washington appear to be a partisan effort to root out perceived opponents. As a co-equal branch of government, Congress has an obligation to conduct rigorous oversight through investigative hearings. Director Patel and Deputy Director Bongino must be called to testify and explain their plans for restructuring the FBI. The American people deserve transparency about any efforts to undermine the independence of this crucial law enforcement agency. Failing to hold the administration accountable would be an abrogation of Congress's constitutional duties. Robust oversight is essential to safeguarding the rule of law and protecting our democratic institutions.