A Republican strategist’s defense of President-elect Donald Trump’s next rumored pick of MAGA enthusiast Kash Patel to join his administration left a Washington Post columnist flabbergasted as she refused to move on without airing her concerns.
“The Constitution still matters! I’m sorry I can't get past the locking up of all of the enemies, whether they're journalists or otherwise, that matters,” columnist Catherine Rampell said during an appearance on CNN’s “NewsNight” with host Abby Phillip. “I don't think the voters get a say on whether the First Amendment still exists.”
The remarks came Friday night during a roundtable discussion about whether Patel is qualified to take on the role of FBI director, which he is reportedly in strong consideration for by the incoming president. Patel has openly boasted of plans to jail journalists.
Republican strategist Jeff Bartos said he sees no problems with appointing Patel as the head of the FBI and told Phillip the Trump loyalist is qualified for the position.
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“I find him to be very smart. I find him to be very focused. I find him to be very interested in reforming – he cares deeply about this country,” Bartos said before the show host jumped in to clarify Patel is interested in reforming the FBI “only as it relates to Donald Trump and his supporters.”
Bartos pushed back on that assessment, as well as the suggestion that Patel wants to arrest journalists.
“That’s not my perspective, that is not my take, and I’ve spent a lot of time with him,” he said.
Bartos added: "On the record, I don't think journalists should be locked up."
Former Rep. Charlie Dent (R-PA) chimed in that Trump’s election victory gave him a mandate for issues like inflation and the economy.
“It's not to do whatever the hell he wants, to take retribution against everybody who he feels wronged him,” Dent said. Phillip appeared to agree, but argued that whether voters gave Trump a mandate “doesn’t matter.”
“And Republicans could get killed in the midterms,” she said. “I don't think Trump cares about that either.”
Watch the clip below or at this link.