Senator Thom Tillis has voiced strong support for President Donald Trump's FBI director nominee, Kash Patel. Senator Tillis plans to formally introduce Patel at an upcoming Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing.
Fox News reported that Tillis called for a thorough vetting process for Patel but seems to strongly support him after waffling for weeks on supporting Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.
His support for Kash Patel follows after he threatened to vote against Hegseth following a flurry of baseless accusations from Democrats.
Vice President JD Vance played a pivotal role in Hegseth’s confirmation by breaking the tie in his favor. This event highlighted the critical importance of each vote and the significant impact of Tillis's decisions in Senate confirmations.
Tillis stated, "I take it very seriously," underscoring his dutiful approach to nomination confirmations—which he views as a solemn obligation to the presidency. He shared further, "I believe I've established, as tedious as I can get with completing my due diligence," highlighting the rigor he applies to the evaluation process.
In anticipation of the confirmation hearing, Senator Tillis has designed a unique "K$H Bingo" game. This game includes terms like "Deep State," "Enemies List," and Section 702 of the FISA, topics he expects Democrats will raise during the discussion.
Tillis plans to distribute several versions of this game among his colleagues, adding a layer of engagement to the serious proceedings.
The senator remarked, "We know what the words are. They already started it because when they ran out of things to attack Pam Bondi on, they started attacking Kash." He expressed his intent to foresee and navigate through predictable opposition tactics smoothly.
"I'm not going to let innuendo and rumors rule the day. I'm going to hold them accountable," Tillis declared, signaling his proactive stance in safeguarding the confirmation process against unfounded allegations and distractions.
As for Kash Patel, his qualifications for the FBI director post will be thoroughly discussed in Tillis's introduction speech. The speech plans to cover around 700 words, focusing on Patel's background, his upbringing, his accomplishments as a prosecutor, and his significant contributions to the administration.
"I will be sharing about 700 words on his background, his upbringing, his work as a prosecutor, his work in the administration," Tillis explained, aiming to paint a comprehensive picture of Patel's professional journey and personal values.
Tillis also indicated a sense of preparedness for the hearing's dynamic, stating, "I'm also going to be providing a bingo card because I know what everybody else is going to bring up." This illustrates his strategic approach to managing and anticipating the discussion's flow during the hearing.
Tillis, reflecting on his responsibility in the Senate, remarked, "Look, I have an obligation to one person in advise and consent, and that is the President of the United States."
His statement clarifies the weight of his role, emphasizing loyalty and duty to the executive branch while maintaining a careful, principled stance on candidate evaluations.
Given his history of meticulous vetting processes, Senator Tillis is prepared to face the challenge with Patel's nomination.
"We know what they're going to do. And I want to make it clear to them there's no Perry Mason moment," he added, indicating his readiness to counteract theatrical or unexpected tactics from opponents during the confirmation process.
Tillis concluded, "I did with Pete. I ultimately voted for him and had to dispose of the allegations or assess the allegations that came at the eleventh hour." This statement reflects on his previous experiences and the cautious yet committed approach he plans to continue employing, ensuring the integrity and thoroughness of Senate confirmations.