Kash Patel confirmed by US Senate as Trump’s FBI director
New York (PTI): New FBI director Kash Patel has vowed to "rebuild" trust in the bureau as he becomes the first Indian-American to lead the country’s premier law enforcement agency after being confirmed by the US Senate.
The Republican-led Senate narrowly voted to confirm 44-year-old Patel on Thursday. The Senate voted 51 to 49 to confirm Patel. Two Republicans, Susan Collins and Lisa Murkowski, voted against his confirmation.
The nomination faced intense scrutiny from Democrats on Capitol Hill who have warned that Patel is poised to use the position to seek retribution against Donald Trump’s perceived political enemies.
In his confirmation hearings, Patel also denied keeping a list of "deep state" enemies, while playing down controversial past remarks he had made such as referring to law enforcement officials who investigated Trump as "criminal gangsters".
After his confirmation, Patel posted on X," I am honoured to be confirmed as the ninth Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Thank you to President Trump and Attorney General Bondi for your unwavering confidence and support."
"The FBI has a storied legacy—from the “G-Men” to safeguarding our nation in the wake of 9/11. The American people deserve an FBI that is transparent, accountable, and committed to justice. The politicisation of our justice system has eroded public trust—but that ends today. My mission as Director is clear: let good cops be cops—and rebuild trust in the FBI," he said.
He also warned that the agency would hunt down those who seek to harm Americans.
He was the 18th Cabinet official approved by lawmakers since Trump was inaugurated a month ago.
Patel takes the helm of an FBI in flux after the justice department forced out some of its top officials and demanded the names of agents who investigated the 2021 riot by Trump supporters at the US Capitol.
Patel replaces Christopher Wray whom Trump picked in 2017. Wray resigned before inauguration day last month after the incoming Republican president indicated he would fire him.
The role of FBI director is supposed to be a 10-year term.
Republicans have defended Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, arguing that Patel will bring needed transparency to the FBI and dismissing controversial past statements as hyperbole.
After announcing Patel as his FBI pick, Trump posted on social media calling him "an advocate for truth, accountability, and the constitution".
"Kash is a brilliant lawyer, investigator, and 'America First' fighter who has spent his career exposing corruption, defending justice, and protecting the American people," Trump said.
Meanwhile, Democrats say Patel is a far-right conspiracy theorist with little experience in law enforcement, and someone who would put fealty to Trump above his oath to lead a department that is meant to operate independently.
"(Patel's) poor judgment and lack of experience make him wholly unqualified to keep Americans safe as our FBI Director. I voted no," Senator Martin Heinrich said on X.
“We will vote no,” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-California) said at the morning news conference.
“Our Republican colleagues, intimidated by this president and threats of primary challenges from the MAGA (Make America Great Again) world, may vote to confirm him. But... they will have to live with that vote.”
In his new position, Patel will lead a mammoth organisation with more than 30,000 employees, hundreds of offices nationwide and a sprawling mandate to investigate cases involving national security, terrorism and violent crimes.
Since long before his nomination, Patel has called for profound changes within the FBI. His 2023 book described the bureau as “a tool of surveillance and suppression of American citizens” and said its powers should be dramatically curtailed.
Trump announced his plans to make Patel the FBI director in November. Patel’s supporters include a group of former agents who have previously been accused of misconduct and were suspended, the New York Times reported.
These former agents, who deny wrongdoing, have accepted financial help from Patel’s nonprofit foundation in some cases and say they have been in touch with him since he was nominated, the report added.
New York-born Patel has his roots in Gujarat. However, his parents are from East Africa - his mother is from Tanzania and his father is from Uganda. They came to the US from Canada in 1970.
“We are Gujarati,” he had told PTI in an earlier interview.
The family moved to Queens in New York - often called Little India -- in the late 70s. It is here that Patel was born and grew.
Patel's parents are retired now and spend their time in both the US and Gujarat. After his schooling in New York and college in Richmond, Virginia, and law school in New York, Patel went to Florida where he was a state public defender for four years and then a federal public defender for another four years.
Patel is an Ice-hockey fan and has been playing the sport since he was six. “I still play and I spend a lot of time volunteering coaching youth hockey in the area.”
Patel, who attended both the Houston and Ahmedabad rallies of Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in September 2019 and February 2020, had earlier told PTI that the bilateral relationship had deteriorated under the Biden administration.
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Karnataka Assembly passes Bill to regulate hoardings, levy advertisement fee
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka Assembly on Monday passed an amendment Bill aimed at regulating outdoor advertisements and enabling municipal bodies to levy and collect fees on hoardings and billboards across the state.
The Karnataka Legislative Assembly adopted the Karnataka Municipalities and Certain Other Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026, after it was moved by Urban Development and Town Planning Minister B S Suresha.
The legislation empowers municipal councils and corporations to levy an advertisement fee on any person who erects, exhibits, fixes or displays an advertisement on land, buildings, walls, hoardings or other structures within municipal limits. The fee will be determined by local bodies through a resolution, subject to minimum and maximum rates prescribed by the state government.
However, the Bill provides exemptions for advertisements related to public meetings of municipalities or corporations, elections to legislative bodies and candidature in such elections.
It also mandates the display of advertisements in any municipal area by obtaining written permission from the concerned municipal council or corporation commissioner after payment of the prescribed fee. Permission will not be granted if the advertisement violates municipal by-laws or if the applicable fee has not been paid.
The amendment further authorises municipal authorities to remove or demolish unauthorised advertisements erected in violation of the provisions. Officials may issue a notice directing the owner or occupier of the land or structure to remove such advertisements, failing which authorities can enter the premises and remove them.
According to the provisions, unauthorised advertisements will attract penalties and fines. Those who delay payment of advertisement fees or penalties will also be liable to pay interest at 18 per cent per annum from the date the payment becomes due until it is cleared.
Authorities may recover dues in a manner, similar to the recovery of property tax, including seizure and sale of advertisement materials if necessary.
The Bill also validates previous levies and collections of taxes, cess or fees by municipalities and corporations, stating that such actions shall be deemed lawful notwithstanding any court judgment, decree or order to the contrary.
Replying to members during the discussion, Minister Suresha said the legislation aims to curb unauthorised hoardings and ensure revenue flows to local bodies.
“Those who have put up boards unauthorisedly are not paying even one rupee in tax. We will remove such boards and take action against them. We will also bring them under the tender process so that the government gets revenue,” he said.
The minister explained that advertisements placed on different types of properties would be treated accordingly.
“Apart from that, there are other categories. Some boards are on government land, some are on private land, and some are on people’s own property. For all these there is tax,” he said.
While authorities cannot forcibly remove boards placed on a person’s own property, they would still be required to pay a prescribed corporation tax, he added.
Suresha also warned of strict action against unauthorised advertisements on government land.
“If someone has placed a private advertisement on government land, the government or corporation will fix the fee. We will call for tenders, and whoever wins the tender must pay the amount fixed by us,” he said.
The minister said the move would help local bodies generate substantial revenue.
“Altogether, there is revenue worth hundreds of crores from this, and our intention is that it should go to local bodies,” he said.
