Trump FBI pick Kash Patel gets lukewarm reception from GOP senators

President-elect Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel to take over as FBI director — effectively firing current FBI Director Christopher Wray, who still has three years left in his 10-year term — has set off a firestorm on Capitol Hill. 

Several Senate Republicans have already come out in support of his nomination, such as Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and Bill Hagerty (Tenn.), but other Republicans are on the fence. 

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), a prominent moderate and member of the Appropriations subcommittee that funds the FBI, said she would have to pore over Patel’s record. 

She said he’s “a nominee I will have to do a lot of work on” when asked about Patel’s more controversial proposals such as shutting down the FBI’s headquarters in Washington and firing its top ranks.