Kash Patel, who President Trump picked to lead the FBI, often says, “There are no coincidences.” This mantra shapes his view that the Biden administration and certain government officials, whom he labels as the “deep state,” are always scheming against the people. His online show for The Epoch Times gained attention by promoting right-wing ideas and often featured this tagline.
Experts who follow conspiracy theories see Mr. Patel’s distrust of the government as a sign of conspiratorial thinking. Robert A. Goldberg, a professor who studies these theories, believes this mindset raises concerns about how Patel would lead the FBI, an agency that traditionally works to separate truth from falsehood.
Goldberg describes this way of thinking as seeing hidden forces or groups behind major events. He points out that it’s surprising someone with this perspective might soon head the FBI, especially since the agency has historically fought against real threats, like the communist conspiracies during the Cold War.
In today’s world, conspiracy thinking has evolved. It’s often less about proving specific theories and more about rallying support or creating an identity for a group. This shift seems evident in Patel’s comments regarding the QAnon movement. In a 2022 interview, he acknowledged some of its ideas but also expressed disagreement, indicating his focus is on connecting with its followers more than fully endorsing the ideology.
The QAnon movement began during Trump’s first term with anonymous online posts claiming secret knowledge about a group of dangerous individuals in politics and entertainment. These theories suggested that Trump would eventually strike against his critics.
Patel spoke positively about certain aspects of QAnon that align with his views on Trump’s legal battles, including the two impeachment trials and the events of January 6, 2021. He has suggested that the QAnon community’s claims about these issues reflect a deeper truth.
According to Patel’s book, “Government Gangsters,” his skepticism toward the government partly came from his experiences as a public defender. He recounts a case in Florida where he revealed that prosecutors had hidden important evidence, leading to the case’s collapse. He criticized federal law enforcement for failing to uphold their own rules.
Many in the FBI worry about Patel’s approach to conspiracy theories. They believe that an FBI director who disregards factual evidence might make poor decisions. Former FBI supervisory agent Karl Schmae emphasizes that agents are trained to rely on facts, not speculation.
Investigations often tackle seemingly unrelated events, which contrasts Patel’s insistence on coincidences having secret meanings. For instance, a violent incident in New Orleans and a vehicle explosion in Las Vegas on the same day had no proven ties, but investigators are still examining them for any connection.
Schmae warns that promoting unfounded theories could deeply damage the FBI’s mission of seeking truth. Patel has consistently criticized the FBI, especially regarding its investigation of potential ties between the Trump campaign and Russia. He claims he would guide it back to what he sees as the right path if appointed director.
In a previous interview, Patel described the “deep state” as a self-serving part of government that works to maintain power and deceive the public. He frequently appears on Fox News, where he has made unproven claims about President Biden and his son Hunter, alleging corruption based on a document from an FBI informant that was later deemed not credible.
Despite concerns about the integrity of these accusations, Patel asserts that the information should be public for the American people. Recently, he mentioned claims about possible bribes involving Ukrainian energy executives and the Bidens but failed to acknowledge the informant’s previous bias. The informant, in question, recently pleaded guilty to false statements regarding these allegations.
