Patel is highly qualified to lead the FBI

OPINION:

Death. Taxes. And the hypocrisy of the left.

If there’s one thing that defines American politics over the last eight years, it’s that Democrats and the swamp accuse everyone else of doing exactly what they’re doing themselves.

For example, disgraced former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe last week shrieked that Kash Patel could “dismantle” the bureau and warned— without an ounce of self-awareness — that Mr. Patel could even *weaponize* law enforcement for political purposes.

As James Comey’s No. 2 at the FBI, Mr. McCabe was instrumental in orchestrating the Russia hoax, spreading the debunked Steele dossier and participating in the biggest abuse of power and corruption scandal in modern American political history.

Not to mention that Mr. McCabe himself was excoriated by the Justice Department’s own inspector general for lying under oath about unauthorized disclosures regarding the FBI’s investigation of the Clinton Foundation.

As it turns out, Mr. McCabe engaged in the same behavior he now feigns outrage over — and does so without even an apology for his conduct while employed by the FBI — conduct that turned the government against perceived political opponents.

In one sense, it’s a tale as old as time: Career bureaucrats view themselves as untouchable aristocrats rather than true public servants. And they erupt with hate and rage every time their credibility is called into question.

And as the bureaucracy expands, their power grows. But the accountability seems to shrink.

That’s why the McCabes of the Beltway want nothing to do with Mr. Patel, who represents true reform, actual change and a real commitment to equal application of our laws.

Without Mr. Patel, we never would have unraveled the Russia hoax, or learned the dirty details about the Clinton-funded Steele dossier or just how flawed the Federal Intelligence Surveillance Court system is.

We are in this moment — and have this opportunity — to restore the integrity of our justice system because of Mr. Patel’s fearless work.

And for the record, he is more than qualified.

He worked as a top aide to then-Rep. Devin Nunes on the House Intelligence Committee, where he uncovered the corruption inside Crossfire Hurricane.

Mr. Patel also held a senior role under the director of national intelligence and worked in the Trump White House’s National Security Council.

He was chief of staff at the Department of Defense.

He’s also a former federal prosecutor and a former federal public defender.

Even the Obama Justice Department awarded Mr. Patel the AAG Award for Excellence for the successful prosecution of Al-Shabaab terrorists.

The range of his experience is his strength. His successes are undeniable.

Of course, Democrats don’t care about qualifications anyway. Their entire party apparatus revolves around anti-merit missions such as diversity, equity and inclusion.

And for decades, Democrats have backed regulations in every Cabinet department that prioritize identity over merit and qualifications.

Last year, a Biden executive order encouraged “federal agencies to focus on racial group identity rather than the character and qualifications of employees and contractors.”

Failed bureaucrats and their unquestioning media stenographers aren’t concerned about a lack of qualifications. They’re worried because Mr. Patel knows what he’s doing.

The entrenched bureaucratic class in Washington would much prefer someone who is clueless, out of touch and easy to control. They’d much prefer a career Beltway climber who doesn’t care about the mission but is just looking to maintain the status quo.

That’s not who Mr. Patel is. He has built a career on pursuing justice, protecting Americans at home and abroad, challenging power centers, uncovering corruption and representing the people instead of the political class.

Mr. Patel will be confirmed by the Senate.

And under his leadership at the FBI, we will have a greater opportunity than ever to get law enforcement back to its true mission of protecting the American people.

Jan. 20 can’t come soon enough.

• Kimberly Guilfoyle is the host of “The Kimberly Guilfoyle Show” on Rumble.