John Cornyn ‘inclined’ to back Trump FBI pick Kash Patel after Senate meeting
Sen. John Cornyn, R-Texas, expressed his support for President-elect Trump’s FBI pick, Kash Patel, following a meeting on Monday. Cornyn told reporters that he had a good meeting with Patel and was “certainly inclined to support him, barring some unforeseen circumstances.”
During their meeting in the Hart office building, Cornyn and Patel discussed the importance of restoring the reputation of the FBI as a nonpartisan, law enforcement investigative agency. Cornyn emphasized the need to rebuild confidence in the FBI, which was eroded after former Director James Comey’s handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton.
Cornyn criticized Comey for announcing prosecutorial decisions that should have been made by the attorney general, stating that “no one should have to go through what President Trump was put through by a partisan Department of Justice and FBI.” He expressed his goal of restoring the nonpartisan functioning of the FBI and the Department of Justice, a goal that Patel reportedly shares.
Patel has been meeting with various senators to shore up support before Trump’s inauguration and official nomination. Other high-profile choices for additional roles in the Trump administration have been engaging in similar efforts to secure backing from lawmakers.
Cornyn’s inclination to support Patel signals a potential confirmation for Patel as the next FBI director, pending further discussions and developments. The senator’s focus on restoring the nonpartisan integrity of the FBI highlights the importance of maintaining trust in the nation’s chief law enforcement agency.
Julia Johnson, a politics writer for Fox News Digital and Fox Business, covers U.S. Senate news and was previously a politics reporter at the Washington Examiner. Follow Julia’s reporting on Twitter at @JuliaaJohnson_ and send tips to Julia.Johnson@fox.com.
