US President Donald Trump’s pick for FBI chief, Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel greeted his parents with a “Jai Shri Krishna” as he introduced them at the US Senate during his opening remarks at a confirmation hearing.
Ahead of his hearing, he was also seen touching his parents’ feet to take their blessings.
“I would like to welcome my father, Pramod, and my mother, Anjana, who are sitting here today. They travelled here from India. My sister, Nisha, is also here. She also travelled across the oceans just to be with me,” said the Indian-origin lawyer born to parents of Gujarati heritage.
“It means the world that you guys are here. Jai Shri Krishna,” Patel said in his opening remarks.
🚨NEW: Kash Patel’s full Opening Statement at his Confirmation Hearing pic.twitter.com/LivswsTgfT
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In his hearing, Patel said he not only carried the dreams of his parents but also the hopes of millions of Americans who stand for justice, fairness, and the rule of law.
“I wouldn’t be here today without their guidance, their unwavering support, and their relentless love. When President Trump informed me of his intention to nominate me as the director of the FBI, I was deeply honoured,” he said.
Patel has been nominated as the Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and if confirmed, he would be the first Hindu and Indian-American to hold the post.
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Patel said his father fled Idi Amins’ genocidal dictatorship in Uganda where three lakh men, women and children were killed “just because they happened to look like me”.
Patel started his career as a public defender trying complex cases including murder and financial crimes in state and federal courts. Later he moved to the Department of Justice where he worked as a terrorism prosecutor. He led investigations and oversaw the prosecution of criminals aligned with Al-Qaeda and ISIS.
