WASHINGTON: FBI director nominee Kash Patel seemingly distanced himself from President Donald Trump’s blanket pardon of January 6 rioters during his Senate confirmation hearing, telling lawmakers he does not support commuting sentences for those who committed violence against law enforcement.
“I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement,” Patel said. His statement marks one of the most significant breaks from a MAGA-aligned figure – but Patel will need both moderate and conservative support for confirmation.
Trump shocked Washington earlier this month when he issued approximately 1,500 pardons related to the Capitol attack, including to violent offenders. However, Patel reportedly arrived at his statement after he first redirected blame to President Joe Biden for issuing pardons in his final week in office, according to Fox News.
During his opening remarks, Patel began by honoring his Indian heritage, thanking his parents - Pramod and Anjana Patel - who flew from India for the hearing as well as his sister Nisha. He drew attention to their presences and greeted them with “Jai Shri Krishna.” A video clip also showed him touching their feet.
A former public defender in Florida, Patel earned his undergraduate degree from the University of Richmond and his law degree from Pace University in New York, with a certificate in international law from University College London. He later aligned himself with Trump’s agenda to dismantle the so-called “deep state,” writing a book that included a list of government officials to target.
Since leaving the first Trump administration, Patel has continued to promote false claims that the 2020 election was stolen and that bureaucrats worked to undermine Trump. He also authored a series of children’s books titled 'Plot Against the King', in which he cast himself as “Kash the Distinguished Discoverer,” a wizard-like figure and the king was ostensibly Trump.
Kash Patel's girlfriend revealed
Kash Patel, former President Donald Trump’s FBI nominee, appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing last week, joined by a close circle of friends and family seated in the front row. Among them was his girlfriend, country music singer Alexis Wilkins, who spent her early years in England and Switzerland before being primarily raised in Arkansas.
The attendees also included Alina Habba, Ric Grenell—Special Presidential Envoy for Special Missions—along with Patel’s sister and parents, who travelled from India to witness the proceedings. In a show of support, Patel sat behind Wilkins, confirming their relationship, as reported by the Daily Mail. A source revealed that the couple first met at a conservative ReAwaken America event in October 2022 and began dating in January 2023.
