Patel on cusp of confirmation to run FBI as Collins says she’ll oppose

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s controversial nominee to lead the FBI, is on track to be confirmed in a matter of hours to run the federal law enforcement agency — but at least one Republican will withhold support.

The Senate voted 51-47 to end debate on Patel’s nomination on Thursday, setting up a final confirmation vote later in the afternoon. As that procedural vote was underway, Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) announced she would vote against him, saying in a statement that his “recent political profile undermines his ability to serve in the apolitical role of Director of the FBI.”

Democrats have echoed those concerns, rallying against Patel’s bid to be the next FBI director on grounds that he would put fealty to the president over his responsibilities to lead a department that has traditionally operated independently of the executive branch.

But Patel, who served in the first Trump administration at the Department of Defense and National Security Council, is still expected to be easily confirmed, even with Collins’ opposition.