Former Intelligence Official Kash patel’s Push for Document Disclosure sparks Controversy
WASHINGTON – Kash Patel, a former national security aide to Congressman Devin Nunes, ignited a firestorm of controversy during his tenure wiht the House Intelligence Committee through aggressive efforts to compel the release of classified documents related to the origins of the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Patel believed his actions “would change my life-and change America-forever.”
joining the House committee staff in 2017, Patel promptly advocated for subpoenas targeting the F.B.I., the C.I.A., and the N.S.A.His aim was to uncover evidence suggesting the Obama Administration attempted to “unmask” the identities of Trump campaign officials incidentally collected in intelligence intercepts.
Months later, Patel and another Republican staffer traveled to London, visiting the law office representing Christopher Steele, the author of a now-discredited dossier alleging connections between Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. Patel stated in his book that the visit was unplanned, occurring while they were in London on an unrelated matter. he claimed they “left immediately after we were told that he was unavailable,” and “then enjoyed a full English breakfast,got on the plane,and headed home,” without informing the American Embassy or Democratic members of the Intelligence Committee about the meeting.
That summer, Patel accompanied Nunes on a congressional trip to Vicenza, Italy, ostensibly “to improve our intelligence community.” During nightly meetings over Negronis, which Nunes termed “the final,” Patel urged Nunes to subpoena records from Fusion GPS, the firm that hired Steele. Patel asserted that these records would reveal the funding source for the Steele dossier, stating, “If I was wrong,” Nunes “could fire me right on the spot.” Patel had already learned the F.B.I. had used the Steele dossier to obtain a wiretap on Carter Page.