Special Poll
John Bolton Likens Kash Patel Nomination to Soviet Secret Police Leadership
Former National Security Adviser John Bolton has issued a stark critique of Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, drawing a controversial comparison to Lavrentiy Beria, one of the Soviet Union’s most infamous secret police chiefs.
“Kash Patel is Trump’s choice to be his Lavrentiy Beria,” Bolton stated during an appearance on NBC News’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “Thankfully, the FBI is not the NKVD. The Senate should reject this nomination with a resounding 100-0 vote.”
The NKVD, active from 1934 to 1946, was the Soviet Union’s interior ministry and secret police. It became notorious for its brutal enforcement of Joseph Stalin’s policies.
Lavrentiy Beria, appointed by Stalin as deputy chief of the NKVD and later head of the Soviet atomic bomb project, gained notoriety for his violent and manipulative methods. Beria’s rise to power was marked by widespread fear, as he employed kidnapping, torture, and other brutal tactics to consolidate his authority. His unchecked control of the NKVD led to concerns among Soviet leaders that he could usurp ultimate power.
Beria’s career ended in dramatic fashion—he was arrested, tried for treason, and executed in Moscow in 1953, leaving behind a grim legacy.
Bolton’s comparison underscores his concerns about Patel’s potential leadership of the FBI, suggesting it could represent a politicization of the agency. Patel, a close ally of Trump, has been a controversial figure, known for his roles in intelligence and defense positions under the Trump administration.
The Senate now faces the decision of whether to confirm Patel, with Bolton and other critics urging them to reject the nomination outright to preserve the independence of the FBI.