Two Republican lawmakers broke ranks on Thursday when the Senate voted to confirm Kash Patel as the next director of the FBI after a contentious confirmation process.

The Context

Patel, who testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee in January, was widely considered one of Trump’s most vulnerable nominees, facing questions about his previous criticism of the FBI’s Russia investigation and pledges to fire top agency personnel who investigated Trump during his first term and after.

What To Know

The Senate narrowly voted to confirm Patel 51-49, with two Republicans voting against the former federal prosecutor’s confirmation:

• Senator Susan Collins of Maine.
• Senator Lisa Murkowski of Alaska.

Kentucky Senator Mitch McConnell, who was closely watched as a possible swing vote, ultimately voted to confirm Patel on Thursday. The former Senate majority leader has voted to confirm a number of Trump nominees, but voted against Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth, director of national intelligence Tulsi Gabbard and Health Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr.

In her statement announcing she would not support Patel, Collins said that “recent personnel actions” at the Justice Department indicate that there is “a compelling need for an FBI Director who is decidedly apolitical.”

“While Mr. Patel has had 16 years of dedicated public service, his time over the past four years has been characterized by high profile and aggressive political activity,” Collins said.

“Mr. Patel has made numerous politically charged statements in his book and elsewhere discrediting the work of the FBI, the very institution he has been nominated to lead,” the Maine senator continued. “These statements, in conjunction with the questionnaire sent to thousands of FBI employees, cast doubt on Mr. Patel’s ability to advance the FBI’s law enforcement mission in a way that is free from the appearance of political motivation.”

Patel’s ascension to director of the FBI comes after a fiery confirmation process, during which, among other things, he refused to say that Joe Biden won the 2020 election.

“What so hard about saying Biden won the 2020 election?” Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont asked Patel during his confirmation hearing. “What’s hard about that?”

“Senator, as I’ve said before that President Biden was certified and sworn in, that he was the president,” Patel said. “I don’t know how else to say it.”

“Well, the other way to say it is he won,” Welch fired back.

“He was the president,” Patel repeated.

Trump’s FBI nominee had a number of testy exchanges with Democratic senators during his confirmation hearing. Hawaii Senator Mazie Hirono grilled Patel on reports that he had an “enemies list,” asking him if he planned on investigating former FBI directors Christopher Wray and James Comey.

“I have no intentions of going backwards,” Patel responded.

He also wrangled with Democratic Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar, who asked Patel about comments he made in an interview and said she “would love to have five hours” to question him.

“You’ve got two minutes,” Patel shot back.

“Wow,” Klobuchar said.

What People Are Saying

Frank Montoya Jr., a retired FBI agent, told CNN that Patel’s confirmation is a “radical” change to the bureau: “I served under four directors in 27 years in the FBI and no one came in with these few qualifications, with this guy’s background, with the conspiracy theory angles. Just all of the things that he has said on podcasts and written in his book, it makes you wonder where the bureau is going to be heading next. It’s just, I don’t know, befuddling to me.”

Democratic Senator Peter Welch of Vermont told CNN of Patel’s confirmation: “It’s the end of the FBI as we know it. Patel is an instrument of Donald Trump. Donald Trump’s policy towards the Justice Department and the FBI is retribution and Kash Patel has signed onto that full throat.”

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, Republican of South Dakota, praised Patel on the Senate floor Thursday, saying: “I look forward to working with Mr. Patel to restore the integrity of the FBI and get it focused on its critical mission.”

This story is developing and will be updated as more information becomes available.