New York Rep. Dan Goldman (D) warned that some of President-elect Trump’s Cabinet and senior staff picks will be used to “weaponize” the government, specifically mentioning Kash Patel, who was tapped to as FBI director.
“Kash Patel is a danger because he is unqualified and because he is out for revenge on behalf of Donald Trump,” Goldman told CNN’s Brianna Keilar on Monday. “And that is not who we should have leading what should be a nonpartisan, apolitical FBI that has a ten-year term for a reason so that it is not in line with the political process.”
The comment comes as Trump has faced scrutiny for several of his nominations.
Patel, a staunch Trump ally, has echoed the former president’s plans for retribution. He has focused much of his commentary on attacking the “deep state,” which he has blamed for “weaponizing the government for their own political and personal agenda.” He also defended the president-elect during several investigations — including the impeachment inquiries and the Russia election interference probe — that he endured while in the White House, as well as following the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol.
He faced pushback from the now-disbanded House select committee investigating the Jan. 6 riots, which asked him to sit for testimony. Patel, who held numerous national security roles during Trump’s first administration, was chief of staff to then-acting Defense Secretary Chris Miller.
When asked during the CNN interview whether Americans should have faith in federal law enforcement, Goldman pushed back on Trump’s controversial nominees.
“I think what it brings it into question is the nominees that Donald Trump has put forward. Matt Gaetz, Pam Bondi, Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard,” the New York Democrat said. “These are not people who are going to implement the rule of law. They have been picked to weaponize the federal government against Donald Trump’s enemies and his adversaries”
“That is the risk to the rule of law,” he continued, making reference to President Biden’s recent pardoning of his son, Hunter Biden. “And that is why Joe Biden used his authority to protect his son from the weaponization.”
Among those controversial nominations was Trump’s original pick for attorney general, former Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), who withdrew from consideration after facing pushback over a DOJ investigation and House Ethics Committe probe into sex trafficking and misconduct allegations, as well as illicit drug use. Trump has since tapped former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, a staunch ally, to lead the Justice Department in his second term.
Trump’s pick for national intelligence director, former Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard — who recently joined the Republican Party — will also likely face an uphill battle for Senate confirmation.
Republicans, who won control of both chambers of Congress last month, especially those with a more hawkish view of foreign policy, may be weary of Gabbard given her history of remarks that have been considered sympathetic to Russia amid its war with Ukraine.
