Republican Donald Trump surpassed his Democratic opponent Kamala Harris and is poised to resume his role as US President for a second term. Trump’s remarkable performance stemmed from his solid results in the swing states, easily surpassing the 270 electoral votes required to secure the presidency.
Upon taking office, the 78-year-old President-elect is anticipated to appoint senior administration officials for his cabinet. Among the prospective candidates for the top positions is Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel, a Trump supporter of Indian descent, whose name is suggested as a contender for CIA Director.
Who is Kash Patel
A former Republican House aide, who held several senior staff positions in the defense and intelligence sectors during Trump’s initial term, Patel has often been seen on the campaign circuit to garner backing for the Republican nominee. He was the previous Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defence Christopher Miller.
Born in New York on February 25, 1980, to Indian immigrant parents hailing from East Africa, Patel has heritage in Vadodara, Gujarat. He finished his bachelor’s degree at the University of Richmond and obtained a law degree, in addition to a Certificate in International Law from University College London.
Patel encountered difficulties obtaining a position at prestigious law firms, prompting him to begin his career as a public defender. He spent almost nine years in Miami courts managing intricate cases such as murder, drug trafficking, and financial offenses.
Also read: US Polls: Three interesting facts about Donald Trump
Patel is an expert in governance
Patel moved to the federal government by becoming a terrorism prosecutor at the Department of Justice, directing investigations and prosecutions of individuals linked to organizations such as Al-Qaeda and ISIS. He additionally acted as the Justice Department’s Liaison Officer to Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), working together on worldwide counterterrorism initiatives.
Subsequently, he was designated Principal Deputy to the Acting Director of National Intelligence, supervising the 17 intelligence community organizations and providing the President’s Daily Briefing.
