Kash Patel’s Emails Offer Insight Into How He Might Run the FBI
More than 800 pages of Patel's emails obtained by FOIA Files, from the Office of Director of National Intelligence, raise questions about whether he’ll weaponize the FBI to settle scores if he’s confirmed as the bureau’s next director.
Kash Patel, US President-elect Donald Trump's nominee to be director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill while meeting with Republican Senators in Washington, DC on Monday, Dec. 9, 2024.
Photographer: Nathan Howard/BloombergWelcome back to FOIA Files! I hope everyone had a great holiday. This week, I’m kicking off the first edition of 2025 with more than 800 pages of emails from Kash Patel, a former official at the Office of Director of National Intelligence during the first Trump administration. Last month, Donald Trump nominated Patel to lead the FBI. The emails, which I obtained exclusively via FOIA, offer some insight into how Patel might lead the bureau, and raise questions as to whether he’ll use his position to settle political scores. If you’re not already getting FOIA Files in your inbox, sign up here.
It's somewhat of a parlor game in some political circles to guess what Patel will do if he’s confirmed as FBI Director. Will he act on previous threats he’s made to weaponize the bureau and exact revenge on Trump’s perceived enemies? Patel told Democratic Senator John Fetterman last month that he wouldn’t do that, but his earlier statements seem to indicate that he could.