Summary

Donald Trump’s nominations of Kash Patel for FBI director and Pam Bondi for Attorney General have raised alarm among civil liberties experts and former prosecutors.

Both are staunch loyalists and election deniers, echoing Trump’s rhetoric about “deep state” foes and promising retribution against his political critics.

Critics warn their appointments could undermine the independence of the FBI and DoJ, erode public trust, and incite political violence.

Patel, lacking agency leadership experience, has a history of inflammatory remarks, while Bondi’s ties to Trump and election denialism further amplify concerns about their ability to uphold the rule of law.