Lawfare Archive: Ignatius and Goldsmith on the Story of Kash Patel
Dec 8, 2024
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David Ignatius, a Washington Post columnist known for his insights on national security, joins Jack Goldsmith, a co-founder of Lawfare and expert in law and policy. They delve into Kash Patel's controversial role in the Trump administration, exploring his influence during the transition to Biden. The discussion examines Patel's various actions, the dynamics of the deep state, and the challenges faced by intelligence officials. Ignatius and Goldsmith shed light on the tensions within the executive branch and the broader implications for U.S. governance.
Kash Patel's attempts to reshape the intelligence community during the Trump transition revealed significant concerns over power dynamics within the executive branch.
The discussion highlighted how Patel's actions and loyalty placements raised alarms about potential abuses of power and deep state narratives.
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Kash Patel's Role During Trump's Transition
Kash Patel, a significant figure in the Trump administration, attempted to reshape the intelligence community during the power transition. Amidst controversies regarding Russian interference investigations, Patel sought to undermine traditional intelligence protocols and place loyalists in key positions. His actions raised concerns about potential abuses of power, paralleling fears of a 'deep state' engagement against the Trump lead. The implications of Patel's ambitions question the balance of power within the executive branch and the integrity of governmental institutions during a politically charged era.
From May 11, 2021: David Ignatius, a columnist for the Washington Post, recently ran a lengthy column about the machinations of Kash Patel in the executive branch during the presidential transition. Patel, a former staffer for Devin Nunes, held a variety of positions in the months before Donald Trump left office, and Donald Trump considered him for a variety of other positions. It's a remarkable story that raises a whole series of questions that Jack Goldsmith has been asking on Lawfare for some time. Benjamin Wittes sat down with Ignatius and Goldsmith to discuss the article. What was Patel up to in the final days of the Trump administration? What does it say about the way the executive branch functioned under Donald Trump? And what does it say about the activities of the deep state?