Jai Shri Krishna: Kash Patel greets parents at FBI confirmation hearing, watch video here

Donald Trump's pick for FBI director, Kash Patel, greeted his parents with "Jai Shri Krishna" during his confirmation hearing on Thursday, after introducing them at the session. Patel, who is of Indian origin, presented himself as the right candidate to lead the FBI, an agency he said had lost public trust. He promised senators that he would prioritize transparency and proper procedures if confirmed as the new director.


Throughout the hearing, Patel faced tough questioning from Senate Democrats about his loyalty to the president and his plans for changes within the FBI. Before his nomination, Patel had criticised the FBI's investigations into Trump and claimed that the Justice Department had mistreated the participants of the January 6 events.


Senator Dick Durbin, the leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, pointed out the FBI's crucial role in protecting the country from various threats. He stressed that America needed an FBI director who "understands the gravity of this mission and is ready on day one, not someone who is consumed by his own personal political grievances."

Patel was nominated in November to replace Christopher Wray, who had served as FBI director for more than seven years. Before this, Patel worked as a House Intelligence Committee aide and a federal prosecutor during Trump's first term.

Critics have raised concerns about Patel's past statements in various podcasts and publications. He has often expressed strong support for Trump and criticised the leadership of the FBI, even naming officials he believes should be investigated.

In a podcast interview last year, Patel said that if he were to become FBI director, he would "shut down" the FBI headquarters on Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington. He added, "And I'd take the 7,000 employees that work in that building and send them across America to go chase down criminals. Go be cops." He also suggested that the building could be turned into a museum of the "deep state."