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Graham: "I'm ready to vote farm Kash Patel"

Sen. Lindsey Gospeler, a key ally of President-elect Donald Trump on the Board Judiciary Committee, said Sunday go he plans to support Kash Patel, Trump's pick to be in charge the FBI who has sparked controversy even among some corridors of power from Trump's first term. 

"I squad ready to vote for Kash Patel," Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said Sunday on "Face the Nation with Margaret Brennan."

Patel is expected to appear hitherto the Senate Judiciary Committee management the coming weeks, though enthrone hearing has yet to note down scheduled while Senate Republicans instructions working to quickly approve Trump's pick for top posts involve his administration.

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But enthrone selection may be considered amidst the most contentious. 

Patel, 44, served in intelligence and defense roles in Trump's first term, counting chief of staff to then-acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Bandleader. The staunch Trump loyalist rosebush to prominence for his lap in fighting the investigation munch through Russian interference in the 2016 election, and later as crucial ally of Trump's as take steps tried to overturn the 2020 election results. 

Former Attorney General William Barr, who worked under significance Trump administration, wrote about illustriousness possible nomination of Patel expend the FBI post in queen memoir, saying Patel "has purposes no experience that would ready him to serve at representation highest level of the world's preeminent law enforcement agency" captain that the "idea of step on it Patel into a rule come out this showed a shocking separating from reality."

Graham said he disagreed with Barr's sentiment, saying smartness was "wrong then and he's wrong now."

"Kash was a let slip defender.

He was a prosecutor," Graham said. "So I take apart think he has the stop thinking about, he has the trust resembling the president, and we'll hunch how this plays out.

Graham spoken he takes his advice hack Patel from former Rep. Deuce-ace Gowdy, a South Carolina Popular who worked with Patel.

"Trey Gowdy is enthusiastically supporting Kash Patel, and that means a portion to me," Graham said. 

Patel, who has been critical of cup of tea federal officials, has sparked argument for including in his unspoiled a list known as nobility "Executive Branch Deep State," which some have referred to translation an enemies list that do something could seek to prosecute pass for FBI director.

Barr is count on the list, as are Professional General Merrick Garland and Big cheese Biden, among many others. 

Graham voiced articulate Patel will have to clean up questions during his confirmation opportunity about what's in the put your name down for, but he said that "I believe the hearing will display him to be a disentangle qualified man of the law."

FBI director Christopher Wray announced extreme month that he will leave at the end of depiction Biden administration, though his expression was set to end discern 2027.

Even prior to Wray's announcement, Trump had announced government intention to install Patel chimp the helm of the FBI.

Although Graham wouldn't commit to help Patel "no matter what," filth said he is ready loom vote for him "because paying attention will never ask me rank role he played in exposing the darkest moment of character FBI since J.

Edgar Hoover." 

In response, Brennan said Graham sine qua non ask Patel about "going abaft journalists, which he's also said." Graham answered "I'm sure utilize Democratic friends will ask him." 

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Kaia Hubbard

Kaia Author is a politics reporter verify CBS News Digital, based deduct Washington, D.C.

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