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Over 50 Civil and Human Rights Organizations Sign Letter Opposing Kash Patel’s Nomination to Lead FBI

Reject Kash Patel
Contact:
Press Department
People For the American Way
Phone number:

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Ahead of tomorrow’s Senate confirmation hearing for Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, 58 organizations committed to civil and human rights — including People For the American Way(link is external), The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights, the National Urban League, and Public Citizen — have sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley and Ranking Member Dick Durbin opposing Patel’s confirmation, saying Patel poses a threat to our democracy. The letter places this opposition in the context of the FBI’s vast power and complex history, including extensive illegal surveillance operations targeting civil rights leaders and organizations.

You can read the full letter here(link is external).

Among other things, the letter notes: Mr. Patel lacks both the professional experience and temperament to lead a federal agency charged with investigating a range of civil and human rights violations, including hate crimes, voter intimidation and election-related crimes, human trafficking, and police misconduct.  Unlike previous FBI directors, Mr. Patel has no senior-level law enforcement experience, nor has he ever held a Senate-confirmed position. His incendiary comments, including those directed at perceived political rivals and civil servants, could endanger American lives if acted upon. 

The letter points out three primary areas of concern regarding Patel’s record: his threats to exact retribution on political rivals, his threats against freedom of the press, and his history of poor judgment. 

 

Signatories include: 

 

  • People For the American Way
  • Accountable.US
  • Advancement Project
  • Alliance for Justice
  • American Atheists
  • American Humanist Association
  • ASATA Power
  • Asian Americans Advancing Justice - AAJC
  • Aunties Coalition
  • Autistic Self Advocacy Network
  • Bend the Arc: Jewish Action
  • Blue Future
  • Catholics Vote Common Good
  • Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW)
  • Clearinghouse on Women's Issues
  • Climate Hawks Vote
  • CommonDefense.us
  • Court Accountability Action
  • Democracy 21
  • Democracy Matters
  • Empowering Pacific Islander Communities
  • Equal Rights Advocates
  • Feminist Majority Foundation
  • FFRF Action Fund
  • Fourth Branch Action
  • Free Press Action
  • Friends of the Earth
  • Government Information Watch
  • Human Rights Campaign
  • Indivisible
  • Just Solutions
  • LDF
  • The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights
  • League of Conservation Voters
  • Matthew Shepard Foundation
  • MomsRising
  • MoveOn
  • NAACP
  • Nathaniel R. Jones Foundation
  • National Action Network
  • National Council of Jewish Women
  • National Organization for Women
  • National Urban League
  • National Women's Law Center
  • NBJC
  • NextGen America
  • People Power United
  • PFLAG National
  • Public Advocacy for Kids (PAK)
  • Public Citizen
  • Reproaction
  • Sadhana: Coalition of Progressive Hindus
  • Southern Poverty Law Center
  • Stand Up America
  • State Democracy Defenders Action
  • Stop AAPI Hate
  • Surveillance Technology Oversight Project (S.T.O.P.)
  • The Workers Circle