BREAKING: Kash Patel CONFIRMED as FBI Director by Senate

Leading up to the final confirmation vote, the Senate voted in favor of invoking cloture in order to end debate early 51-47. Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) said that she would not be voting in favor of Patel. The Maine Senator also did not vote in favor of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's confirmation.

Both Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Collins voted against Patel.

Collins wrote in a statement, "While I strongly support efforts to ensure all federal employees perform their responsibilities ethically and in accordance with the law, Mr. Patel’s recent political profile undermines his ability to serve in the apolitical role of Director of the FBI. Therefore, I will vote against his nomination."

Murkowski wrote in a post, "My reservations with Mr. Patel stem from his own prior political activities and how they may influence his leadership. The FBI must be trusted as the federal agency that roots out crime and corruption, not focused on settling political scores. I have been disappointed that when he had the opportunity to push back on the administration’s decision to force the FBI to provide a list of agents involved in the January 6 investigations and prosecutions, he failed to do so."

Patel has vowed to work with lawmakers in order to show what people worked with Jeffrey Epstein and told lawmakers in a hearing, "If confirmed as FBI director, to make sure the American public knows the full weight of what happened in the past and how we are going to countermand missing children and exploited children going forward," referring to the case.

In addition to the votes on Thursday, Democrats hosted a press conference in order to voice their opposition to Patel. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) claimed "Mr. Patel will be a political and national security disaster if confirmed."