All right, let's turn now to the Trump transition, with
the president-elect announcing a controversial new pick to lead the
FBI and already facing pushback.
Also getting pushback is Trump's pick to lead the Pentagon.
NBC senior Washing course correspondent Hallie Jackson has the latest
new fallout this morning from the pick of Cash Patel
to serve as FBI director in the incoming Trump administration.
He agrees with Donald Trump that the Department of Justice
should serve to punish, lock up and intimidate Donald Trump's
political opponents.
Patel, a former Capitol Hill staffer who served in the
first Trump term, seen as a fiery and fierce Trump
loyalist.
I'd shut down the FBI Hoover Building on day one
and reopening the next day as a Museum of the
deep state.
He backed president-elect Trump's 2020 election fraud lie and he's
threatened retribution against perceived Trump enemies like journalists.
We're going to come after you.
Some Senate Republicans so far sounding supportive.
There are serious problems that the FBI Mr.
Trump apparently looking to force out the current FBI director.
His own pick in 2017, Christopher Wray, who has three
years left on his 10 year term.
The FBI in a statement saying Director Ray's focus remains
on the men and women of the FBI, the people
we do the work with and the people we do
the work for.
The confirmation spotlight also focusing on Pete Hegseth, the former
Fox News anchor chosen to lead the Pentagon and a
previously undisclosed 7 page 2015 whistleblower report obtained by The
New Yorker alleging Hegseth was repeatedly intoxicated while serving as
head of the Concerned Veterans for America quote to the
point of needing to be carried out of the organization.
NBC News has not independently verified that report, which was
allegedly sent by former CVA employees to senior management.
Heg Seth's attorney, via an advisor, tells The New Yorker.
We are not going to comment on outlandish claims laundered
through The New Yorker by a petty and jealous disgruntled
former associate of Mr.
Heg Seth's.
And a newly released 2018 e-mail published by The New
York Times in which Heg Seth's mother suggests he's mistreated
women for years writing.
You are an abuser of women and I have no
respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around
and uses women for his own power and ego.
NBC News has not independently obtained the e-mail, but Penelope
Headset told the Times she apologized almost immediately in a
follow up e-mail and disavowed her original note sent while
her son was going through a difficult divorce.