NYT Report: Kash Patel’s Responses To Senate Shed Light On Personal, Professional Life

Photo: Reuters/Go Nakamura

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC – Kash Patel, a staunch Trump ally tapped to lead the FBI, has provided new insights into his life through a 24-page questionnaire sent to the Senate Judiciary Committee. According to the New York Times, Patel’s submission details his legal work on behalf of a human trafficker, his membership in an exclusive Las Vegas club, and his participation in a diversity and inclusion initiative, among other personal revelations.

The documents, as reported by the NYT, also clarify Patel’s early career. Born to immigrant parents from Gujarat, Patel grew up on Long Island, worked as a caddy, and later spent years as both a local and federal public defender in Florida.

In his questionnaire, Patel provides detailed accounts of his legal defense work for criminals, including crack dealers and gun runners, and notably, a 2013 case in which he convinced federal prosecutors to drop trafficking charges against a man accused of exploiting 17 people, including minors.

Patel also discussed his involvement with various businesses across the country, including his recent acceptance into the Poodle Room, an elite rooftop club at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Las Vegas. With a membership fee of approximately $20,000, the club was named after a lounge that once hosted Frank Sinatra and the Rat Pack, according to the New York Times.

In his submission, Patel also touched on his participation in the American Bar Association’s Judicial Intern Opportunity Program, a diversity initiative, while a law student at Pace University in 2003. This involvement may seem unremarkable in the context of Patel’s career, the NYT observed, were it not for the fact that Trump has made attacking diversity programs a cornerstone of his political platform. Patel, however, has remained relatively silent on the subject of diversity and inclusion, a topic frequently championed by Trump and his supporters.

Despite his vocal support for Trump, Patel has written that he “helped support diversity in the legal profession” and mentored attorneys from underrepresented backgrounds. He also served as a board member of the South Asian Bar Association of North America.

Another significant point that the New York Times highlighted is Patel’s previous embellishment of his role in the investigation of the 2012 Benghazi attack, which killed four Americans. Patel had previously claimed to have led the inquiry, but in his recent questionnaire, he simply stated that he had “collaborated on cases tied to the Benghazi attacks.” The NYT noted that he did not mention the incident when asked to list his 10 most important legal cases.

The committee may hold a hearing on Patel’s nomination as soon as January 29, NYT said.