Senate confirmation hearings are typically perfunctory affairs for high-level executive-branch nominees like the FBI director but Democrats have been outspoken in their opposition to Patel, a former Trump White House aide and top official at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said Wednesday that Republicans' plan to confirm "such an ideologically extreme nominee" was further proof that Congress is "more polarized than ever." "Patel's nomination represents another radical departure in FBI leadership," Murphy tweeted.? Trump has endorsed Patel for the job, saying he has done a "tremendous job." He said at the time: "We must support Kash and all of those who work with him to protect our liberty from the Deep State predators lurking within our government."?

Senate confirmation hearings are typically perfunctory affairs for high-level executive-branch nominees like the FBI director but Democrats have been outspoken in their opposition to Patel, a former Trump White House aide and top official at the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI). Democratic Senator Chris Murphy said Wednesday that Republicans' plan to confirm "such an ideologically extreme nominee" was further proof that Congress is "more polarized than ever." "Patel's nomination represents another radical departure in FBI leadership," Murphy tweeted.? Trump has endorsed Patel for the job, saying he has done a "tremendous job." He said at the time: "We must support Kash and all of those who work with him to protect our liberty from the Deep State predators lurking within our government."?