Patel, like Trump, has taken a different view, saying the rioters have been mistreated by the criminal justice system. A former federal public defender and prosecutor, he has called them “political prisoners” and offered on at least one occasion to represent them for free.

As Republicans' take on the Jan. 6 Capitol insurrection evolved from disapproving to defensive, Kash Patel played a role in reframing their position.

Patel is a controversial nominee, having long raged against the so-called Deep State and prioritized his loyalty to Trump.

An FBI insider has come forward with new information questioning Kash Patel's judgment during sensitive hostage rescue missions, according to CBS News. Patel is set to appear before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday for his confirmation hearing.

Kash Patel will sit down in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday to explain why he should be confirmed to lead an agency he seems to despise. Donald Trump’s nominee to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation has said he would shut down the agency’s headquarters “on Day 1” and “reopen it the next day as a museum of the deep state.”

FBI nominee Kash Patel is facing pushback from Democrats after they obtained a whistleblower report claiming he violated FBI protocols.

Rachel Maddow takes a closer look at Donald Trump's pick to lead the FBI, Kash Patel, who several of his past colleagues from the first Trump administration warn has a tendency to make stuff up.

President Donald Trump’s FBI director nominee Kash Patel will appear at a confirmation hearing this week, as the devoted Trump ally has long vowed to punish Trump’s enemies—drawing widespread criticism from even top officials in Trump’s first White House.