Sen. Bill Hagerty (R-Tenn.) said he encouraged President-elect Trump to bring Kash Patel “to the table” after the incoming president nominated him to serve as head of the FBI.
During an appearance on NBC’s “Meet The Press,” Hagerty said Patel “represents the type of change that we need to see in the FBI.”
“This entire agency needs to be cleaned out. It’s not doing its job,” he said.
Hagerty detailed the “politicization” in the agency, noting there are “serious problems.”
“The American public knows it,” he added. “They expect to see sweeping change and Kash Patel is just the type of person to do it.”
Patel, who Trump nominated Saturday to lead the FBI, has continued to echo the president-elect’s claims about a “deep state” and cast doubt on the FBI he would lead as well as its investigation into Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Patel has called for mass firings, particularly at both the Justice Department and the FBI. He also called for stripping security clearances from anyone involved in investigating Trump during his 2016 candidacy for president.
However, Patel has faced some pushback, especially from former members of the FBI.
Hagerty noted that though he might not agree with all of Trump’s nominees, including Trump’s pick for director of national intelligence, former Democratic Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (Hawaii), he plans to support them.
“I certainly don’t have to agree with every point of every one of President Trump’s nominees, but I am here to support them, and I’m here to support the type of dramatic change that’s underway,” he said.
