Lawler dismissed that Patel’s nomination is “surprising” to some, suggesting he is well-equipped to perform the role of directing the FBI due to his previous work, including working as chief of staff at the Department of Defense. Trump’s nomination of Patel has split the Republican Party, with some praising the pick while others have expressed support for current FBI Director Christopher Wray.

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“I think there‘s no question President Trump made very clear that the Department of Justice and the FBI would be reformed if he was elected to a second term, and I think, obviously, with the selection of Pam Bondi and Kash Patel that‘s exactly what he‘s going to do,” Lawler said on CNN’s State of the Union.

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Lawler was then asked if he was concerned over Patel “going after” Trump’s opponents, with CNN anchor Kasie Hunt stating that the nominee has “a list of names in his book.” The Republican lawmaker responded by stating the public is uninterested in “a revenge tour,” and that Trump’s opponents should only be concerned if they did wrong “in their official capacities.” 

Lawler cited how he grew up in a post-9/11 New York, during which the FBI was focused on combating terrorism, and that it is a far cry from the current FBI and the Department of Justice, which has become “weaponized” to the point of becoming “completely political.”

“The lack of confidence that Americans have in the Department of Justice and the FBI is terrible, and so, obviously, we want a system that is reformed, that works for the American people, and that prosecutes criminals, and that should be the objective and the goal of every American,” Lawler said. “And obviously, that‘s what my hope is as the Department of Justice moves forward under Pam Bondi and the FBI under Kash Patel.”

In the wake of Patel’s nomination by Trump, Sen. Mike Rounds (R-SD) spoke favorably of Wray, and stated that Trump selected “a very good man” at the start of his first term, adding that he does not have “any complaints” over Wray’s performance as FBI director. However, he added that he believes Patel, along with “every one of these Cabinet nominees” by Trump, would get confirmed by the Senate.