‘His apartment has a space dedicated to gods’: FBI director nominee Kash Patel’s uncle says he is ‘beyond resilient’
On Thursday night, Kashyap ‘Kash’ Patel appeared before the US Senate Judiciary Committee at Capitol Hill for his confirmation hearing for the position of Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Meanwhile, in Gujarat’s Vidyanagar, his maternal uncle Premsharan Amin observed the live event, finding no surprise in his nephew's “resilience” while handling the inquiries. Amin expressed that the family is “anxiously waiting” for the 44-year-old's confirmation, noting that his achievements are “self-made”.
If approved, Kash Patel would become the first Hindu and Indian American to hold the role of FBI Director.
During a conversation with reporters, Amin, aged 69 and currently in India, mentioned that Kashyap, a member of the Republican Party, is a first-generation ‘politician,’ with no political affiliations on either side of his family in India or the United States. “My wife and I followed the hearing from 8 pm until 1:40 am… He began his journey as a public defender in Miami Dade, primarily representing clients accused of drug crimes. His understanding of the US judicial system began there…,” Amin explained.
“He later moved to Washington DC, where the Obama administration appointed him as a senior advisor to the Congress-elect committee on security and anti-terrorism. His role included briefing the select committee and President Obama each day. His area of expertise is in anti-terrorism. Kashyap has experienced steady development and demonstrates remarkable resilience. It may not be obvious upon first meeting him, but we believe that this role (FBI Director) will not overburden him. He is equipped to handle it,” he added.