On this, Kash Patel, Trump’s nominee for FBI director, falls short. While some senators may disagree about whether Patel has sufficient experience to manage the Bureau’s 38,000 employees, his lack of independence is disqualifying.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that since much of Kash Patel’s confirmation hearing so far has focused on President Donald Trump’s clemency grants to people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, “it’s important that we remind people at the same time of some pardons by the previous administration.”