Kash Patel, President-elect Trump’s decide to guide the FBI, has threatened authorized motion in opposition to a former aide to ex-Vice President Pence over her feedback criticizing Patel, the aide stated.
Olivia Troye, a former counterterrorism aide to Pence who has grow to be a vocal critic of Trump, on MSNBC earlier this week stated Patel would “lie about intelligence” and “lie about making things up on operations,” going as far to say he “put the lives of Navy SEALs at risk.”
In a letter despatched to Troye’s counsel that she posted on X, an legal professional for Patel referred to as the statements defamatory and demanded Troye retract them or face authorized motion.
“This is a complete fabrication, and you know it is false by virtue of your former position in the White House,” Jesse Binnall, Patel’s legal professional, wrote within the letter.
“At no point did Mr. Patel ever lie about national intelligence, place Navy Seals at risk, or misinform the Vice President,” Binnall continued. “Not only did you have actual knowledge of the falsity of this smear, but you also did so with the malicious intent of degrading his character and of cynical self-promotion.”
Binnall represents the president-elect in a civil lawsuit in opposition to him introduced over the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol assault and likewise represents North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson (R) in his ongoing defamation go well with in opposition to CNN.
Troye on X stated she stands by her statements.
“This aligns with his threats against the media & political opponents, revealing how he might conduct himself if confirmed in the role,” she wrote. “I stand by my statements — my priority remains the safety & security of the American people.”
Troye has grow to be a vocal critic of Trump since leaving the White Home, delivering a speech at this 12 months’s Democratic Nationwide Conference in help of Vice President Harris’s candidacy and showing in a Harris marketing campaign advert.
Trump introduced Patel as his alternative to guide the FBI on Saturday, indicating he plans to fireside present Director Christopher Wray. Patel, who served in a number of nationwide safety roles within the first Trump administration, is a staunch ally of the previous president who has repeatedly accused a “deep state” of thwarting Trump. Patel has crafted an inventory of figures he calls “government gangsters” who he says “must be held accountable and exposed in 2024.” The checklist consists of Wray in addition to Legal professional Basic Merrick Garland.
“I am not the only one who has expressed concerns about him. So why me?” Troye wrote on X. “And so it begins.”
