Mr. Patel: Congratulations on your nomination to become the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, where I spent nearly two decades serving our nation.
Running history’s most advanced law-enforcement and intelligence organization would be a herculean task under ideal conditions. Years of mismanagement, scandal, and political attacks make it much harder. Recent failures, from the terrorist attack in New Orleans to the bureau’s investigation of “radical” Catholics to high-profile sexual misconduct, have further tarnished the bureau’s reputation.
You are an unconventional pick, and many of my FBI friends, former colleagues, and I are concerned about what you might do with such broad operational powers and list of vendettas. But the bureau stands at a turning point. If you approach your task thoughtfully, you could be exactly the kind of outsider that the FBI needs now.
As you know, the FBI employs nearly 14,000 agents and 23,000 professional support staff across the United States and around the world and maintains a $11.4 billion budget. At its best, the bureau workforce is driven by a shared commitment to integrity. As director, you would have tremendous power over personnel and priorities.
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