President Donald Trump is anticipated to call FBI Director Kash Patel because the appearing head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, sources acquainted with the matter informed ABC Information.
A Justice Division official informed ABC Information that Patel is anticipated to be sworn in as appearing director early subsequent week.
FBI Director nominee Kash Patel gestures as he walks on stage to talk throughout the inaugural parade inside Capital One Area, in Washington, DC, on Jan. 20, 2025.
Angela Weiss/AFP by way of Getty Photos, FILE
The White Home did not reply to a request for remark.
The transfer comes after Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi fired the ATF’s normal counsel, Pamela Hicks, late final week. Bondi mentioned in an interview with Fox Information on Friday that it was as a result of the company’s lead lawyer was “concentrating on gun homeowners.”
Kash Patel is sworn in as FBI director by Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi within the Indian Treaty Room within the Eisenhower Government Workplace Constructing on the White Home campus in Washington, Feb. 21, 2025.
Pedro Ugarte/AFP by way of Getty Photos
ABC Information reached out to Hicks for remark.
Patel was sworn in because the FBI director final week regardless of a number of controversies surrounding his nomination. He has been a vocal critic of the FBI for years and beforehand mentioned he needed to wash out the bureau’s headquarters in Washington claiming corruption and bias.
Patel, who has by no means been an FBI or ATF agent, has supported for Jan. 6 rioters, attended rallies with Trump and appeared with numerous conservative figures together with ones who’ve pushed Qanon conspiracies.
All Senate Democrats and GOP Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski voted in opposition to Patel citing his lack of political objectivity.
The ATF, which is tasked with regulating gross sales and registrations of firearms throughout the US, has lengthy been a goal of Republicans over what they argue is authorities encroachment on Second Modification rights.
Legal professional Normal Pam Bondi walks to the West Wing of the White Home, Feb. 21, 2025, in Washington.
Alex Brandon/AP
Earlier this month, Trump issued an govt order instructing Bondi to assessment actions to deal with the fitting to maintain and bear arms and current a plan to the White Home after 30 days.
In one in all her first memos signed after her affirmation, Bondi instructed the ATF to shift assets away from its alcohol and tobacco enforcement arms to help within the DOJ’s efforts to fight unlawful immigration and transnational prison teams.
