Conservative lawyer Mike Davis is warning Senate Republicans that they will feel his “political wrath” if they dare to block the confirmation of Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump‘s nominee for FBI director.
Patel, a staunch Trump loyalist who served in multiple roles during the president-elect’s first administration, was controversially nominated over the weekend to replace current Trump-appointed FBI Director Christopher Wray. While Republicans will have a 53-to-47 seat Senate majority in January, Patel’s confirmation is anything but certain.
Criticism of Patel ranges from a lack of qualifications to past comments that suggest he would use federal law enforcement to target Trump’s enemies, including supposed “deep state” and media “conspirators” involved in a plot to “rig” the 2020 election, which was legitimately won by President Joe Biden.
In a recent interview with MAGA media figure Benny Johnson, Davis argued that Patel is “clearly qualified” to serve as FBI director and demanded that GOP senators back his selection. Davis then threatened to use the Article III Project, his right-wing judicial advocacy group, to punish any senators who defy the president-elect.
Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI director, is pictured at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Fort Washington, Maryland on February 23, 2024. Pro-Trump lawyer Mike Davis warned on Monday that GOP Senators… Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI director, is pictured at the Conservative Political Action Conference in Fort Washington, Maryland on February 23, 2024. Pro-Trump lawyer Mike Davis warned on Monday that GOP Senators who do not vote to confirm Patel would feel the “political wrath” of his right-wing activist group the Article III Project. DOMINIC GWINN/Middle East Images/AFP via Getty Image
“You need to vote to confirm all qualified executive branch top officials, including Kash, unless you can point to clear and convincing evidence that they’re disqualified because of their personal misconduct,” Davis said in the interview, which was shared on Monday to X, formerly Twitter. “You’re not going to be able to do that with Kash.”
“I hope these 53 Senate Republicans understand that this is a red line,” he added. “If they don’t vote to confirm this highly qualified FBI director nominee, they’re gonna face the political wrath of the Article III Project.”
Davis went on to suggest that voting against Patel would be “a political death wish” for Senate Republicans, warning that those who oppose the nominee will “get primaried” or provoke MAGA world to “make [their] political lives living hell.”
Newsweek reached out for comment to the offices of Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell and Senator John Thune, the incoming GOP majority leader, via email on Monday evening.
While it is not yet clear which Republican senators might oppose Patel’s confirmation, if any, at least one of Trump’s controversial Cabinet picks has already failed following apparent GOP opposition.
Former Congressman Matt Gaetz, formerly the subject of a House Ethics Committee investigation and a federal criminal probe into sex abuse allegations, withdrew himself from attorney consideration on November 21 following a week of intense scrutiny and criticism.
The New York Times reported shortly before Gaetz dropped out that the former congressman believed at least four Senate Republicans including McConnell were “implacably opposed” to his joining Trump’s Cabinet and would effectively block his path to confirmation.
Update 12/2, 7:43 p.m. ET: This article has been updated with additional context and clarification on the Gaetz withdrawal.
