Letter to the Editor by Kathleen Baldoni – Perrysburg resident
I can’t stay quiet about Kash Patel’s nomination. Donald Trump has nominated individuals to his cabinet whose only qualification is unwavering loyalty to him. One is reminded of Hitler, who required his administration to swear an oath of loyalty to him, with the German constitution being changed within two months.
Trump’s most dangerous choice is Patel, who has no experience in law enforcement or administration and has vowed to “weaponize” the FBI to avenge the notion that Trump has been unfairly targeted. This isn’t just a political game—it’s a threat to government accountability. That’s why we must urge our senators to say ‘no’ to this dangerous nomination before it’s too late.
Patel’s drive is to rid all who criticize Trump. As FBI director, Patel could hold immense authority to weaponize the FBI, targeting those Trump or Patel perceive as political enemies—especially those who fight for civil and equal rights. This isn’t just theoretical; Patel has openly stated he’d use federal law enforcement to go after media figures and political adversaries. This could lead to investigations of minority groups in local communities whom he deems dangerous only because they would oppose Trump’s agenda.
Patel’s nomination recalls the troubling history of leaders who leveraged their authority to serve personal or partisan agendas. One such figure is J. Edgar Hoover, the long-serving FBI director who weaponized the Bureau against perceived enemies, including civil rights leaders, journalists and activists, under the guise of national security. Hoover’s unchecked power stifled dissent and undermined public trust in law enforcement, with his actions later condemned as abuses of power.
Kash Patel’s intent to “weaponize” the FBI for Trump’s personal vendettas mirrors Hoover’s misuse of authority, threatening to erode the democratic principles of accountability and impartiality. History has shown the danger of granting such power to individuals driven by loyalty to a single leader, rather than allegiance to the Constitution.
These unnecessary investigations could also divert the FBI’s focus from real issues in our communities—like immigration reform, tax reform, economic development, combating human trafficking and addressing the opioid crisis—in favor of advancing Trump’s personal vendettas. Thus, we cannot allow someone as extreme and unqualified as Patel to lead one of the most critical institutions in our democracy.
When leaders like him are given power, they don’t just affect policies—they affect real lives, like mine and my neighbors. As FBI director, he could have the unchecked power to direct resources away from keeping us safe and toward advancing a partisan agenda.
Senator Bernie Moreno and Jon Husted, please do not vote to confirm Kash Patel as FBI director. As a resident of Perrysburg, Ohio, I am concerned about how Patel’s leadership could undermine trust in law enforcement and put my community (all communities who disagree with Trump) at risk of being overlooked in favor of political vendettas.
We cannot normalize extremists like Patel. We can not legitimize cabinet picks who are afraid to challenge Trump. The attack on the Capitol on January 6, 2021 and the subsequent pardoning of over 1,500 participants in that insurrection prove Donald Trump’s vindictiveness, and Kash Patel would undoubtedly become another tool for his revenge.
Patel lacks the judgment and temperament to lead an agency as critical as the FBI, with its 35,000 employees and vast domestic and international responsibilities. For the sake of our democracy, we cannot afford to entrust such power to someone so unfit for the role.
