Washington (AP) – FBI Director Kash Patel was removed as acting head of the Alcohol Bureau, Tobacco, firearm and explosives and has been replaced by the Army Secretary, three people familiar with the issue said.
It was not clear immediately why Patel was replaced by Army Secretary Daniel Driscol to lead the Agency of the Ministry of Justice, which was responsible for the implementation of the nation’s weapons laws. A person familiar with the question that he speaks of anonymity to discuss staff movement said Patel had been removed at the end of February, just days after he was sworn.
But this has never been publicly announced. Patel on Wednesday afternoon remained on the agency’s website and was identified as acting director in a press release on April 7. In March, he published on social media a note that sent to the workforce of ATF, which reads “a special message from the acting director”. And the senior leaders of ATF were informed only on Wednesday about the change, according to another person familiar with the question that speaks of the conditions of anonymity to discuss this move.
Driscol will remain secretary of the army, according to a defense official. This puts the leader of the defense – with a big deal – is responsible for the internal law enforcement agency. US Defense Officers have historically tried to maintain a strict division between military forces and law enforcement. In US troops, they have no right to participate in US law enforcement activities. However, they provide support and collection of consumer and border protection intelligence to help secure the southern border
As an army secretary, the 38 -year -old Driscol manages the largest service of the US military, which has about 452,000 soldiers, including thousands, which are located around the world. He also watches dozens of major weapons, planes and billions of dollars and is responsible for the Army budget of over $ 187 billion.
Harrison Fields, a White House spokesman, said Patel was “briefly marked by ATF director while waiting for Senate-Standart, short-movement confirmations.”
“Director Patel is now distinguished in his role in the FBI and is achieving exceptional results,” Fields said.
North Carolina’s Driscol had served as an adviser to Vice President J. He served in the army for less than four years and leaves the first lieutenant.
He runs unsuccessfully in the Republican primary for the congress place in North Carolina in 2020, receiving about 8% of the vote in a crowded area of ​​candidates.
Patel was appointed Director of ATF in an unusual arrangement in February only days after he was sworn to lead the FBI, causing him to manage two separate and scattered agencies of the Ministry of Justice.
The Ministry of Justice employees are considering a plan to combine ATF and the administration to apply drugs into one agency. The two agencies often work together with the FBI, but both are guided by individual directors and have the task of clearly different missions.
The plan is intended to “achieve efficiency in resources, deconflicts of cases and regulatory efforts,” according to a recent note from the Deputy General Prosecutor Todd Blanche.
ATF investigates things like violence, weapons trafficking, arson and attacks. He also provides technical expertise in the tracking of weapons used in crime and analyzing intelligence in shooting investigations. In the meantime, the DEA is responsible for the implementation of the laws of the nation around drugs. His agents are focused on the fight against criminal drug networks and the resulting illegal flow of fentanyl and other street drugs.