Former FBI Special Agent Daniel Brunner said if President-elect Trump chooses loyalist and former Trump administration aide Kash Patel to lead the FBI, it would do “massive damage” to the agency.
“Putting someone like Kash Patel in the position of Director of the FBI is, I believe, extremely, extremely dangerous because … his resume isn’t traditional,” Brunner said Sunday on CNN.
Brunner later added that Patel “has no experience leading an organization, no less a Cub Scout pack.”
Reports have surfaced that Trump is eyeing Patel for the position and may fire current FBI Director Christopher Wray, after the president-elect takes power.
Patel, who was the chief of staff to acting Defense Secretary Christopher Miller during the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol, has defended Trump and testified on behalf of the president-elect against states that were considering taking Trump off the ballot over Jan. 6.
Patel works as an adviser to Trump for national security issues and as a board member for Trump’s media company.
In the interview Sunday, Brunner noted that Patel “clearly stated” he wants to seek revenge on those who investigated Trump and his allies.
“He will conduct a massive amount of damage to the interior of the FBI,” he said.
Brunner noted there will be hundreds of employees who are “unjustly fired.” Patel’s hypothetical position would mean he’s in charge of “tens of thousands” of employees, including special agents, analysts and “everyone that is enforcing the law” federally.”
“So, I think he’ll be very, very dangerous,” he said.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.
