Supporters of President-elect Donald Trump are accusing Senate Democrats of obsessing over Kash Patel after the hearings of a fellow cabinet nominee focused on the nominee for FBI Director.
"They're most afraid of [Patel]," country musician John Rich posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Wednesday, "because they know he'll end and expose all the nefarious activity that's been going on for the past 4 years, and many of them are implicated."
"They are terrified of Kash Patel," another prominent pro-MAGA account posted in response.
Several similar sentiments are circulating on social media, all referencing the recent confirmation hearing of Pam Bondi, Trump's pick for Attorney General.
Why It Matters
Patel was announced as Trump's nominee for FBI Director in November and, if confirmed, will succeed Christopher Wray in leading the nation's principal federal law enforcement agency.
The nomination of Patel, a former Department of Justice prosecutor, has brought with it anxiety that the president-elect may utilize various government agencies to target his longtime political opponents.
Patel has been vocal about his desire to go after "government gangsters," and has vowed to undo the influence of "deep state" forces within the government as well as the agency he is being tasked with heading.
In his 2023 book, Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy, Patel gave a list of 60 individuals—including President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton—who he considers as posing a "dangerous threat to our democracy."
What To Know
Patel's so-called "enemies list" was a key focus of Pam Bondi's Wednesday confirmation hearing before the Senate judiciary committee.
Patel, who would answer to Bondi if confirmed, was brought up several times, with Senate Democrats questioning whether she approved of his past endorsement of the QAnon conspiracy theory and whether the legal arm of the incoming administration would target any of the individuals included in his expansive list.
Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse asked whether Bondi, as attorney general, would "enforce" Patel's list. In response, Bondi told Senators that there "will never be an enemies list within the Department of Justice."
Newsweek has contacted the Trump transition team outside of normal business hours for comment and will update this article if a response is received.
What People Are Saying
John Rich, via X: "Notice all the Dem Senators, no matter which Trump nominees they interrogate, ALWAYS bring up @Kash_Patel. They're most afraid of him, because they know he'll end and expose all the nefarious activity that's been going on for the past 4 years, and many of them are implicated."
Karli Bonne, a conservative social media commentator, via X: "My goodness they are so afraid of KASH Patel."
South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham, during Bondi's confirmation hearing: "If they're asking you about Kash Patel, it must be going pretty well."
North Carolina Senator Thom Tillis, during Bondi's confirmation hearing: "You should be happy that so many comments have been directed towards Kash Patel... because that means they're out of stuff for you."
What Happens Next?
Despite the sparring over Patel as well over her acceptance of the 2020 election results, Bondi's performance during the first day of hearings, combined with the Republican Senate majority, appears to have paved the way for her confirmation.
Patel's confirmation hearing has not yet been scheduled, and he is meeting with GOP senators in preparation.
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