Frank Figliuzzi, a former assistant director at the FBI, said Kash Patel's takeover could mean a "total hijacking of the federal law enforcement system."

Several Republican U.S. senators said on Sunday they would back President-elect Donald Trump's choice of Kash Patel to head the FBI, an early show of support for a loyalist who has called for the bureau to be purged of those who oppose Trump's agenda.