U.S. Susan Collins of Maine voted against Kash Patel as FBI director Thursday, though her fellow Republicans still had the votes to confirm President Donald Trump’s controversial pick.
Patel, a lawyer and former federal prosecutor who held intelligence and national security roles during Trump’s first term, has defended the president and fiercely criticized the federal law enforcement agency he would now lead if confirmed to a 10-year term. During the 2024 campaign, he said Trump would go after government and media figures criminally and civilly.
In his only confirmation hearing, Patel did not provide a clear answer on whether Trump lost the 2020 election to former President Joe Biden. He tried to distance himself from his work with a “prison choir” of people convicted of participating in the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Patel, 44, also claimed he was unaware of the Justice Department demanding the names of thousands of agents who participated in Jan. 6 investigations and forcing out senior FBI officials.
“While I strongly support efforts to ensure all federal employees perform their responsibilities ethically and in accordance with the law, Mr. Patel’s recent political profile undermines his ability to serve in the apolitical role of director of the FBI,” Collins said in a statement Thursday morning ahead of the Senate voting 51-49 in the afternoon to confirm him.
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, and Collins were the lone Republicans to oppose Patel, who still won confirmation thanks to the GOP having a 53-47 advantage in the chamber. U.S. Sen. Angus King, I-Maine, joined Democrats with whom he caucuses in voting against Patel.
Collins had voted with Republicans on Tuesday to advance Patel’s nomination to the floor for a final vote. Her office explained that as a procedural vote to go into executive session rather than based on Patel’s “merits.”
Trump, who saw his felony conviction in a hush money case and other pending criminal investigations against him dropped after he won the November election, had announced Patel’s nomination in December after moving to oust then-FBI Director Christopher Wray. Trump picked Wray to serve under him during his first term before accusing Wray of weaponizing the agency.
Wray urged his former colleagues in a parting message to remain independent and stay out of politics. Democratic senators warned Patel will continue to be a loyal ally to Trump rather than an independent leader of the federal law enforcement agency, also pointing to a letter last week that suggested Patel had been covertly involved in the recent Justice Department discussions over firing FBI agents involved in the Capitol riot investigations.
But other Republicans have backed Patel by highlighting what they view as a law enforcement system that was weaponized against Trump and conservatives during the Biden administration.
Collins’ vote was her second against a Trump nominee since the president assumed office in January. She also opposed Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, saying he did not have the required experience and that she doubted he had changed his past views against women serving in combat.
In explaining her opposition to Patel, the Maine senator mentioned the recent resignations of Justice Department officials and a questionnaire sent to FBI agents over their roles in Jan. 6 investigations.
“In this context, there is a compelling need for an FBI director who is decidedly apolitical,” Collins said. “While Mr. Patel has had 16 years of dedicated public service, his time over the past four years has been characterized by high profile and aggressive political activity.”