After a keenly contested election, millions of US voters delivered Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump a second non-consecutive stint in the Oval Office on Wednesday.
When the 78-year-old President-Elect assumes his role, he will be selecting his cabinet members and other high-ranking officials within his administration. Among the prominent candidates likely to take up major roles is Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel, the potential CIA Chief.
Who Is Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel?
Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel, an Indian-origin American and ‘Trump’s ultimate loyalist’ is likely to be the potential pick for the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) Director. According to reports, Patel played a crucial role in discrediting Russia’s election interference probe. He has earlier been a Republican House staffer and held various senior staff roles within intelligence and defense during Trump’s previous administration.
Patel has reportedly got a nod from some of Trump’s allies for the next CIA Director position. However, his appointment should be confirmed by the Senate. If Patel fails to secure Senate’s vote, he is expected to be appointed as a National Security Council member.
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Early Life And Career
Patel was born to Gujarati immigrant parents in New York City. He began his career in public defense, fighting various cases including murder, narco-trafficking, and financial crimes, reports stated. He was also a terrorism prosecutor in the Department of Justice.
As per the U.S. Department of Defense’s official profile, Patel played a pivotal role in the prosecution of criminals linked to terrorist groups including Al-Qa’ida and ISIS. He was also the Liaison Officer to the Joint Special Operations Command within the Department of Justice.
A Controversial Figure
Although Patel has received a nod from Trump loyalists, he has also been reportedly criticized by some of the national security community officials.
He has also served as the Principal Deputy to the Acting Director of National Intelligence, where he supervised the activity of all 17 US intelligence agencies.
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