Kerry Picket
Articles by Kerry Picket
Kash Patel’s confirmation prospects get a boost from GOP senators who want FBI ‘de-politicized’
Kash Patel, the nominee for FBI director, got a warm reception on Capitol Hill this week from GOP senators who said they back his plans to overhaul the bureau and root out alleged political bias from investigations. Published December 10, 2024
FBI Director Christopher Wray preparing to resign
FBI Director Christopher A. Wray plans to resign on or before Inauguration Day, The Washington Times has learned. Published December 9, 2024
Former Trump Pentagon official backs Kash Patel for decisions during 2020 rescue mission
A Pentagon official in President-elect Donald Trump's first term defended FBI Director nominee Kash Patel after a story reemerged about a 2020 SEAL Team 6 rescue mission of an American hostage in Nigeria. Published December 6, 2024
Trump allies draw ‘red line’ at Hegseth, warning defeat would kneecap chances for other key nominees
The embattled nomination of Pete Hegseth for defense secretary has President-elect Donald Trump and allies working to hold the line on a second pick getting nixed, or risk opening the floodgates for rejection of his unconventional nominees including Tulsi Gabbard and Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Published December 5, 2024
Jerry Nadler steps aside in race for top Democrat spot on House Judiciary Committee
Rep. Jerrold Nadler on Wednesday bowed out of the top Democratic leadership post on the House Judiciary Committee, surrendering to a challenge for the job by Rep. Jamie Raskin. Published December 4, 2024
Defense Secretary pick Pete Hegseth makes his case to senators as misconduct allegations pile up
Defense Secretary nominee Pete Hegseth is making the rounds on Capitol Hill this week, meeting with GOP senators whose votes he will need to be confirmed amid growing allegations of personal misconduct. Published December 3, 2024
GOP says FBI overhaul crucial after James Comey ‘broke’ it
Senate Republicans say the new FBI director will need to fix an ailing bureau that former FBI Director James Comey "broke." Published December 3, 2024
Trump’s DEA nominee slammed by conservatives for heavy-handed policing of COVID rules
President-elect Donald Trump's pick of Hillsborough County (Florida) Sheriff Chad Chronister to lead the Drug Enforcement Administration ran into opposition from conservatives who say the lawman is a COVID-19 lockdown enforcer. Published December 2, 2024
Trump taps Patel to restore trust in FBI; Republicans support shake-up, Democrats wary of intentions
President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Kash Patel to lead the FBI has ignited a confirmation battle that likely will be as much a fight over the future of America's premier national law enforcement agency as over the candidate's qualifications. Published December 1, 2024
Sen. Chuck Grassley says Christopher Wray ‘has failed’ as FBI director
Sen. Charles E. Grassley said Sunday that FBI Director Christopher A. Wray has failed at doing his job at the agency. The Iowa Republican said Mr. Wray has shown "disdain" for congressional "oversight and hasn't lived up to his promises." Published December 1, 2024
Former FBI agents go to bat for Kash Patel to be the bureau’s next director
Former FBI agents say they want President-elect Donald Trump to appoint Kash Patel, a former senior national security official, to be FBI Director. Published November 25, 2024
Trump senior adviser Dan Scavino fuels speculation about a congressional run in N.Y.
A longtime senior adviser to President-elect Donald Trump is wondering aloud about running for the House seat that Rep. Elise Stefanik will vacate when she resigns after Mr. Trump nominates her to be U.N. ambassador. Published November 22, 2024
Republican lawmakers accuse Pentagon IG of hiding Jan. 6 evidence
The Committee on House Administration's Subcommittee on Oversight Chairman Barry Loudermilk sent a letter to the Defense Department's inspector general demanding a correction in the Pentagon's Jan. 6 report. Published November 21, 2024
Wray on the way out? Vance, Trump are interviewing FBI candidates
Vice President-elect J.D. Vance confirmed that he and President-elect Donald Trump are talking to FBI director candidates, which suggests Mr. Trump plans to fire current FBI Director Christopher A. Wray. Published November 20, 2024
Dems’ Jeffries says GOP lacks mandate to make big changes
House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said Republicans don't have a mandate to make sweeping changes in the upcoming spending agreement and later when President-elect Donald Trump returns to the White House with a Republican Congress. Published November 19, 2024
Rep. Nancy Mace introduces resolution to ban transgender women from female restrooms in Capitol
Rep. Nancy Mace introduced a resolution Monday to prohibit transgender women from using female bathrooms at the Capitol. Published November 18, 2024
GOP contenders emerge in Ohio for J.D. Vance’s Senate seat
Several Republicans in Ohio are emerging as potential candidates to fill the Senate seat that will be vacated when Vice President-elect Sen. J.D. Vance takes the oath of office in January. Published November 18, 2024
Whistleblower warns FBI can’t be trusted with background checks for Trump’s nominees
An official at FBI headquarters in Washington is warning that the bureau's security clearance division is politicized and can't be trusted to screen President-elect Donald Trump's nominees for top administration jobs. Published November 16, 2024
Sen. Ron Johnson displays photo of Rachel Levine and Sam Brinton when asked about Matt Gaetz
Sen. Ron Johnson pushed back on a reporter's question about the House Ethics Committee report related to attorney general nominee Matt Gaetz, displaying a photograph of Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services Rachel Levine, who is transgender, and non-binary former Biden Department of Energy official Sam Brinton. Published November 14, 2024
51 Biden laptop deniers in danger of losing security clearances; letter falsely accused Russia
Several Republican lawmakers want Congress to strip the security clearances of dozens of former U.S. intelligence officials who worked against President-elect Donald Trump in 2020 by asserting that information in the laptop of Hunter Biden was likely Russian disinformation. Published November 13, 2024
