Kash Patel, a former prime Nationwide Security Council official who additionally played a key position as a Hill staffer in serving to Republicans discredit the Russia probe, is now a senior adviser for brand spanking new appearing Director of Nationwide Intelligence Richard Grenell, in response to four individuals accustomed to the matter.
It’s not clear what actual position Patel is enjoying within the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, which oversees the U.S. intelligence group. He began at ODNI on Thursday, in accordance to an administration official.
Patel, who didn't immediately reply to a request for comment, joined the National Security Council’s Worldwide Organizations and Alliances directorate final February and was promoted to a senior counterterrorism position on the NSC in mid-summer.
He had beforehand labored as Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.)’s prime staffer on the House Intelligence Committee and was the lead writer of a report questioning the conduct of FBI and DOJ officials investigating Russia’s election interference. Republicans later used the report back to bolster arguments that the probe was a plot to take down President Donald Trump.
Grenell, who has not served in any U.S. intelligence agency and will even continue as the U.S. ambassador to Germany, won't require Senate affirmation to serve as appearing director. Nor will Patel in his new position.
On Thursday, Grenell won early help from two key members of GOP leadership. But it’s unclear if most Republicans — notably on the Senate Intelligence Committee — are snug with the president’s selection. Intel Chairman Richard Burr (R-N.C.) has remained conspicuously silent on the president’s selection of Grenell as appearing director.
Burr’s counterpart Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, blasted the choice of Grenell, and stated it was “an effort to sidestep the Senate’s constitutional authority to advise and consent on such important nationwide security positions.”
The choice of Patel is more likely to increase hackles additional among Democrats, who typically tangled with the former Nunes staffer when he labored on Capitol Hill.
ODNI’s Principal Government Andrew Hallman, who has been performing the duties of the principal deputy director of nationwide intelligence, shall be leaving the office as quickly as Friday, based on three individuals acquainted with the matter. It’s not clear whether or not Hallman, who's weighing his subsequent steps, will return to the CIA.
Spokespeople for the NSC and ODNI didn’t instantly reply to requests for comment.
Natasha Bertrand contributed reporting.
Src: NSC aide who worked to discredit Russia probe moves to senior ODNI post
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