WASHINGTON — Kash Patel, a prominent ally of president-elect Donald Trump and his new pick to head the FBI, is promising a sweeping overhaul of the agency, vowing to dismantle what he calls the “deep state” entrenched within the U.S. government.

In his 2023 book Government Gangsters: The Deep State, the Truth, and the Battle for Our Democracy, Patel excoriates the FBI, the Justice Department, and other arms of the federal government for what he claims is their long-standing bias against conservatives. He has called for a “comprehensive housecleaning” of the Justice Department, asserting that top officials have shielded Democrats while unfairly targeting Republicans and their allies.

Supporters of Patel and believers in the “deep state” point out the weaponization of the FBI in recent years, such as the FBI spygate against the Catholic church and the Department of Justice leveraging the FBI to persecute Christians in America.

This demographic looks to Trump and Patel as the nation’s hope to restore the FBI to a nonpolitical agency once again deserving of glory and respect. 

Trump, a vocal supporter of Patel, endorsed the book as a “blueprint to take back the White House” and rid Washington of corruption. 

Patel’s criticism of the FBI is fierce. He pointed out the FBI’s politically driven investigation into Trump’s Mar-a-Lago documents, a case that was later dismissed when the court found the special counsel was unlawfully appointed.

Patel’s criticism extended to the media, which he has repeatedly accused of aiding in the effort to rig elections, which the hugely influential top 1% of earners in the U.S. have self reported is “okay.” 

In a 2023 interview with former Trump adviser Steve Bannon, Patel pledged to confront those in the media who, in his view, lied about American citizens and helped the Biden administration manipulate the 2020 election.

“We’ve got to put in all-American patriots top to bottom,” Patel said of the DOJ. The upcoming Trump administration “will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government but in the media.”

Patel’s legal career includes stints as a public defender and a federal prosecutor in the National Security Division of the Justice Department, where he worked on anti-terrorism operations. He later became a key figure in Trump’s defense during the Russia investigation, helping lead efforts to discredit the FBI’s handling of the probe.

Patel’s nomination as FBI director comes after the announcement of Christopher Wray’s resignation, which Trump hailed as a victory for those seeking to end the weaponization of federal agencies. 

Wray, appointed by Trump in 2017, will step down in January 2025. The move paves the way for Patel to take charge of an agency he believes has been compromised by partisan influence.

Trump has lauded Patel as “the most qualified nominee to lead the FBI in the agency’s history,” emphasizing his dedication to restoring law and order. “We want our FBI back,” Trump said in a statement. “This will now happen.”

Patel, 44, has garnered praise for his extensive experience in national security and counterterrorism efforts, including playing a significant role in missions to take out top ISIS leaders and bring U.S. hostages home. He also worked on strategies to counter threats from China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.

A native New Yorker, Patel has embraced a conservative political identity, which he attributes to his college years and professional experience in law. As the Trump administration’s chief of staff at the Department of Defense during its final months, Patel became an outspoken critic of the FBI, calling for significant reform of its leadership and operations.

In the wake of Wray’s resignation, Patel expressed confidence that the transition would be seamless. “We look forward to a very smooth transition at the FBI, and I’ll be ready to go on day one,” he said.

With widespread Republican support, including key Republican Senator approvals, Patel’s confirmation as FBI director seems inevitable, marking a decisive step toward what Trump has framed as a broader effort to restore “Fidelity, Bravery, and Integrity” to the agency. 

As the country prepares for a new era of leadership, Patel’s vision for a reformed FBI promises a direct challenge to what he sees as the entrenched corruption of the “deep state.”