WASHINGTON (AP) — On Thursday, the Senate cast a tight 51-49 vote to confirm Kash Patel as the new director of the FBI, placing him at the helm of the nation’s leading federal law enforcement agency. This decision raised concerns among Democrats regarding his qualifications and the potential for political bias towards Trump and his opponents.

Senator Dick Durbin, D-Ill., remarked, “I cannot imagine a worse choice,” prior to the Senate’s narrow decision, with Senators Susan Collins of Maine and Lisa Murkowski of Alaska being the only Republican dissenters.

A staunch ally of Trump and a vocal critic of the FBI, Patel will step into a tumultuous environment. Recently, the Justice Department compelled the removal of several senior officials within the bureau and made an extraordinary request for the identities of thousands of agents involved in the investigations linked to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. This development has raised significant alarm.

Patel has expressed ambitions to initiate major reforms within the FBI, advocating for a reduced presence in Washington and a renewed focus on traditional crime-fighting roles, rather than the intelligence-gathering responsibilities that have increasingly defined the agency over the last twenty years as national security challenges have grown.

However, his previous comments aligning with Trump’s desire for political retribution have raised alarms among Democrats, particularly his assertions about pursuing anti-Trump “conspirators” pre-nomination.

In a statement on social media following his confirmation, Patel expressed his honor in becoming the ninth FBI director, praising the bureau’s “storied legacy.”

“The American public deserves an FBI that prioritizes transparency, accountability, and justice. The politicization of our legal system has undermined trust, but that stops now,” Patel said, articulating his commitment to “empowering law enforcement officers while restoring public confidence in the FBI.”

Republicans who feel that the Democratic Biden administration has displayed bias against conservatives have rallied around Patel, viewing him as the ideal candidate for this role. Senator Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, highlighted Patel’s ambition to restore the FBI’s accountability to Congress, the presidency, and the citizens it serves.

Critics among the Democrats pointed to Patel’s perceived lack of management experience compared to previous directors and emphasized past incendiary remarks that they argue jeopardize his ability to lead effectively.

Senator Richard Blumenthal, a Connecticut Democrat, warned that this vote would haunt those who supported Patel, urging Republicans to consider how they would explain their vote to constituents and family as endorsing someone who could tarnish the FBI’s integrity.

A group of Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats gathered outside FBI headquarters earlier that day in an effort to thwart his confirmation, with Senator Adam Schiff of California asserting, “This is someone who lacks the character and integrity vital for this role.”

Patel’s controversial comments on various podcasts and interviews over the last four years include calling law enforcement officials investigating Trump “criminal gangsters” and labeling some January 6 rioters as “political prisoners,” even suggesting that the FBI headquarters should be repurposed as a museum for the so-called deep state.

During his January Senate hearing, Patel contended that Democrats misrepresented his remarks and insisted a list of government officials he labeled as part of a “deep state” should not be misconstrued as an “enemies list.”

Patel promised that if confirmed, he would not engage in politically motivated actions, stating, “I have no interest or desire to look back. The focus will be on a fair and impartial enforcement of the law.” He emphasized that his ultimate goal would be a “de-weaponized, de-politicized” enforcement system dedicated to adhering to the Constitution.

Patel was appointed in November to succeed Christopher Wray, who resigned at the end of the Biden administration after being appointed by Trump in 2017. Wray had often drawn Trump’s ire throughout his tenure, notably after the FBI’s search of his Mar-a-Lago estate in August 2022 as part of investigations leading to indictments against Trump.

Typically, FBI directors serve ten-year terms to safeguard them from political pressure, preventing ties to any single administration. However, Trump acted to terminate FBI Director James Comey shortly after taking office, and subsequently replaced Wray after more than seven years in the role.

In the wake of Wray’s departure, the FBI has been led by interim leaders, who encountered friction with the Justice Department over requests for details about agents involved in the Capitol riot investigations—an action perceived by some as a precursor to broader firings. Patel denied involvement in these discussions, even as a letter from Durbin suggested he might have been discreetly connected to the process.

Trump has indicated that he anticipates the dismissal of some of those agents involved.

Patel has a background as a federal defender and was a counterterrorism attorney at the Justice Department. He gained attention during Trump’s first term as a staff member on the Republican-led House Intelligence Committee, where he contributed to a memo addressing errors in the FBI’s investigation into Trump-Russia ties during the 2016 campaign.

Later, he served in Trump’s administration, holding roles as a counterterrorism official at the National Security Council and as chief of staff to the Secretary of Defense.