Republican U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski on Thursday voted against confirming Kash Patel as President Donald Trump’s pick for FBI director. Patel was confirmed by the Republican-majority Senate in a 51-49 vote. Murkowski and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine were the only GOP members to oppose Patel’s confirmation.
Patel said there will be “no politicization” at the FBI and “no retributive actions.” Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski joined all 47 members of the Democratic Caucus in voting against the nomination.
Patel is a controversial nominee, having long raged against the so-called Deep State and prioritized his loyalty to Trump.
The Senate narrowly confirmed Kash Patel to be the next FBI director. Sen. Lisa Murkowski of Alaska and Sen. Susan Collins of Maine were the only Republicans to vote against the longtime Trump loyalist.
Democrats had complained about Patel's lack of management experience and highlighted incendiary past statements that they said called his judgment into question.