William Webster, a respected figure in the national security community, questioned Kash Patel’s partisanship and Tulsi Gabbard’s lack of experience.
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William Webster, the only person to lead both the FBI and CIA, says Donald Trump’s nominees for FBI Director and Director of National Intelligence, Kash Patel and Tulsi Gabbard, are not qualified for the roles. and asked the U.S. Senate to veto him.
In a letter to senators, Webster, 100, emphasized the need for “bipartisan leadership and experience” in each position. “The safety of the American people and your own families is at stake,” he wrote, urging the Senate to thoroughly vet nominees during their confirmation hearings, the Guardian reported.
Webster, a respected figure in the national security community, previously supported Trump’s Democratic opponent, Kamala Harris, along with 100 other former Republican officials. His letter marks an unusual intervention by an elder statesman who has consistently championed bipartisan leadership in intelligence and law enforcement.
Concerns about Patel’s partisanship
Mr. Webster, who was appointed FBI director by Democratic President Jimmy Carter in 1978 and CIA director by Republican President Ronald Reagan in 1987, was particularly concerned about Mr. Patel’s candidacy to lead the FBI. expressed. He warned that the “close political alignment” between Patel and Trump could undermine the department’s impartiality and rule of law.
“While Mr. Patel’s intelligence and patriotism are admirable, his close political alignment with President Trump raises serious concerns about his impartiality and integrity,” Webster wrote.
Patel, a staunch ally of President Trump, has vowed to target critics of the former president if confirmed. He also promised to close the FBI’s Washington headquarters and turn it into a museum about the so-called “deep state.” Patel’s book, Gangsters in Government, includes a list of 60 people that critics have labeled the “enemies list.”
Gabbard’s lack of experience
Webster also questioned the qualifications of Gabbard, a former Democratic congresswoman turned Republican presidential candidate, to serve as director of national intelligence and oversee the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies. He noted her “conspicuous lack of intelligence experience” and warned of risks to U.S. national security and global partnerships.
“Effectively managing our intelligence community requires unparalleled expertise in addressing the complexity of global threats and maintaining the trust of our allies. Without that trust, sensitive “The ability to protect secrets and cooperate internationally will be greatly diminished,” Webster wrote.
Gabbard’s nomination has alarmed members of the intelligence community due to her past interactions with recently ousted Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad and her criticism of U.S. support for Ukraine in its war with Russia. .
Critics have accused her of repeating pro-Kremlin claims, raising doubts about her candidacy.
