Kashyap "Kash" Patel has officially been appointed as the first Indian-origin Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The Republican-controlled US Senate approved his appointment by a 51-49 vote on Thursday.

Dan Scavino, Assistant to the President and White House Deputy Chief of Staff, confirmed that US President Donald Trump has signed the official commission to appoint Kash Patel as the ninth Director of the FBI.

The White House welcomed this decision, calling it an important step in fulfilling President Trump's agenda of restoring integrity and upholding the rule of law. Patel’s appointment reflects Trump’s strong influence over the Republican Party, as the Senate has approved all his key cabinet picks so far.

Who is Kash Patel?

Kash Patel was born in New York in 1980 to Gujarati parents who had earlier lived in East Africa. He spent his early years growing up there before moving to the United States.

According to his Department of Defence profile, Patel studied at the University of Richmond for his undergraduate degree. Later, he went to New York, where he earned a law degree and a certificate in international law from the University College London Faculty of Laws in the United Kingdom.

Before becoming FBI Director, Patel held important government roles. He worked as the National Security Advisor and Senior Counsel for the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI). His work has focused on national security, counterterrorism, and intelligence matters.

Kash Patel’s reaction to his appointment

After the Senate confirmed his appointment as FBI Director, Kash Patel expressed his gratitude and outlined his goals. He pledged to rebuild the agency into one that is "transparent, accountable, and committed to justice."

His words reflect his commitment to reforming the FBI and ensuring that it operates with fairness and honesty.

What happened at the US Senate confirmation hearing?

Kash Patel’s confirmation hearing at the US Senate was a significant event. He attended the hearing with his parents, sister, and girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins. Before the proceedings began, Patel bowed down to touch his parents' feet, a traditional Hindu gesture of respect. He also greeted his parents with ‘Jai Shri Krishna’ while introducing them to the Senate Judiciary Committee.

During the hearing, Senator Lindsey Graham asked Patel whether he had faced racism in his life. Patel confirmed that he had experienced racism while growing up. He chose not to go into detail, especially with his family present, but he shared a past incident where he had received hateful comments.

"Unfortunately, Senator, yes. I don't want to get into those details with my family here," he said.

He then shared an example of the racism he had faced: "I was called a detestable—and I'll apologise if I don't get it all right, but it's in the record—a detestable sand nigger who had no right being in this country. You should go back to where you came from. You belong with your terrorist home friends. That's what was sent to me. That's just a piece of it, but that's nothing compared to what the men and women in law enforcement face every day."

His statement highlighted the challenges he faced as an Indian-origin American and his deep respect for law enforcement officers who deal with even harsher situations every day.

What is the FBI?

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the main intelligence and security service of the United States. It is a key federal law enforcement agency that operates under the Department of Justice. The FBI also plays an important role in the U.S. Intelligence Community and reports to both the attorney general and the director of national intelligence.

The FBI is responsible for handling serious national security and law enforcement issues, including counterterrorism, counterintelligence, and major criminal investigations. It has jurisdiction over more than 200 types of federal crimes.

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