Amidst a contentious FBI director nomination, AG Kwame Raoul, joined by counterparts from 19 states, is pushing for additional grilling of Kash Patel. The attorney generals’ coalition, troubled by reports of retaliation within the bureau, insists on thorough inquiry before the Senate takes a decision. According to a statement released by Raoul, they demand Patel account for alleged firings and a proposed list targeting agents who probed the Jan. 6 Capitol riots.
Raoul, who takes pride in his office's collaboration with the FBI to battle various threats, finds such retaliation “unacceptable.” Further, he argues that dismissing personnel for fulfilling their duties could ultimately spell disaster for public safety, not just in Illinois but nationwide. His words, “My office has proudly partnered with the FBI to combat theft, fraud, drug and gun trafficking, and other crimes that threaten the safety and well-being of Illinois communities,” reflect both a professional and moral stance on the issue.
The attorney general’s letter follows concern about the aftermath of Patel's confirmation hearing, where more than a dozen high-ranking FBI officials were reportedly dismissed, and subsequent plans to oust or retire six more were surfaced. A pointed example provided by the coalition was the direction by acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, who allegedly ordered the construction of a list comprising all staff ever involved in the Jan. 6 events investigations — a move potentially implicating over 6,000 agents.
The group’s insistence on accountability extends beyond the FBI. They critique additional actions by President Trump which, they claim, have undermined national security. "In just two weeks, the president has fired United States Attorneys, pardoned rioters who killed and injured Capitol Police officers, and attempted to cut off funding for law enforcement across the country,” says the collective of attorneys general in their correspondence.
The attention now converges on the Senate Judiciary Committee, where Raoul and his fellow attorneys general expect answers and assurances before moving forward with Patel’s confirmation
