Biden WH adviser dodges whether he’s concerned Trump FBI pick labeled him ‘deep state’ member

The Biden administration’s national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, recently found himself in a bit of a sticky situation when asked about his thoughts on President-elect Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel to lead the FBI. Patel had previously listed Sullivan as a member of the “deep state” in his book, “Government Gangsters,” published last year. During an interview on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Kasie Hunt questioned Sullivan about whether he was concerned about Patel having all the powers of federal investigations, given his inclusion on Patel’s list.

Sullivan, however, chose to downplay the situation and instead focused on his remaining days in office before Trump’s inauguration on Jan. 20. “I wake up every day to defend this country and protect the national interest. I’ve got 50 days left, and I’m going to stay focused on making sure we have a smooth transition to the next team,” Sullivan responded.

Patel’s book, which Trump praised as a “roadmap” to exposing bad actors in the government, paints a grim picture of the FBI and alleges widespread abuse of power within the agency. Patel’s list of alleged “deep state” members includes Sullivan, as well as other Biden officials such as Attorney General Merrick Garland, Vice President Kamala Harris, and FBI Director Christopher Wray.

Despite being asked about Patel’s nomination as FBI chief, Sullivan declined to comment on Trump’s decision and instead praised Wray’s work as the current FBI director. He highlighted the importance of the FBI director being insulated from political influence and emphasized that Wray was appointed to a 10-year term by Trump, serving under both administrations.

For Patel to assume the position of FBI director, Wray would need to resign or be fired, and Patel would need to be confirmed by the Senate. The future of the FBI remains uncertain as the transition of power approaches, with concerns raised about Patel’s ties to Trump and his views on the agency.

In conclusion, Sullivan’s response to the question about Patel’s nomination demonstrates his commitment to focusing on the tasks at hand during his final days in office. The controversy surrounding Patel’s book and his list of “deep state” members adds another layer of complexity to the transition process and raises questions about the future direction of the FBI under new leadership.