Kashyap Pramod “Kash” Patel, born on February 25, 1980, is an American attorney and former government official. He held various key positions during the Trump administration, including serving as a National Security Council official, senior advisor to the acting Director of National Intelligence, and chief of staff to the acting U.S. Secretary of Defense. Patel, a member of the Republican Party, also worked as a senior aide to Congressman Devin Nunes during his tenure as chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
Kash Patel Biography 2024
His career prior to these roles included positions as a federal public defender, federal prosecutor handling national security cases, and legal liaison to the U.S. Armed Forces. Patel is widely regarded in the media as a “Trump loyalist,” particularly for his involvement in assisting Republican efforts to challenge the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. As Nunes’ aide, Patel played a significant role in the Republican pushback against these investigations.
Kash Patel Biography Details
Born | Kashyap Pramod Patel February 25, 1980 (age 44) Garden City, New York, U.S. |
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Political party | Republican |
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Education | University of Richmond (BA) Pace University (JD) |
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Kash Patel Early Life
Kashyap Patel was born in 1980 in Garden City, New York, to Gujarati Indian parents who had immigrated to the U.S. from East Africa via Canada. His father worked as a financial officer for an aviation firm. Patel graduated from Garden City High School on Long Island before going on to earn a degree in criminal justice and history from the University of Richmond in 2002. He also received a certificate in international law from University College London in 2004 and earned his Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law in 2005.
Kash Patel Bio
Personal Information | Data |
Full Name | Kashyap Pramod Patel |
Date of Birth | February 25, 1980 |
Place of Birth | Garden City, New York |
Parents’ Origin | Gujarati Indian immigrants from East Africa via Canada |
Father’s Occupation | Financial officer for an aviation firm |
High School | Garden City High School, Long Island |
Undergraduate Degree | Criminal Justice and History from University of Richmond (2002) |
International Law | Certificate from University College London (2004) |
Law Degree | Juris Doctor from Pace University School of Law (2005) |
Early Career Path
Career Phase | Details |
Public Defender | Worked as a public defender in Miami-Dade County and as a federal public defender (2005–2014) |
Criminal Defense Cases | Represented clients charged with international drug trafficking, murder, firearms violations, and more |
National Security Division | Joined the U.S. Department of Justice in 2014, worked on counterterrorism and national security cases |
House Intelligence Committee | Senior Counsel on Counterterrorism (2017) |
Aide to Devin Nunes
Position | Details |
Title | Senior Committee Aide to Rep. Devin Nunes |
Role in Russian Investigation | Key player in the GOP’s opposition to investigations into Trump and Russian interference |
Nunes Memo | Primary author of the controversial memo alleging FBI misconduct regarding Carter Page |
Dismissal of Claims | Memo was criticized as biased and factually selective, though Patel was celebrated by Trump allies |
Positions in the Executive Branch
Position | Details |
National Security Council (NSC) | Joined in 2019, first as a staffer in International Organizations and Alliances, then as Senior Director for Counterterrorism |
Key Mission | Led a secret mission to Syria to negotiate the release of two hostages in 2020 |
Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI) | Became Principal Deputy to Acting Director Richard Grenell in 2020 |
Notable Trips | Accompanied Trump on a state visit to India in February 2020 |
Trump-Ukraine Scandal
Event | Details |
Patel’s Role | Played an unpublicized role in Ukraine policy and was suspected of being a backchannel for Trump |
Phone Records | Phone records showed a 25-minute call with Rudy Giuliani, which Patel described as a “personal” call |
Impeachment Inquiry | Testified about his involvement in Ukraine-related discussions but denied any misconduct |
Post-Executive Branch Activities
Activity | Details |
CIA Consideration | Trump reportedly considered Patel for CIA Director in 2021 after firing Gina Haspel |
Defense Department | Served as Chief of Staff to Acting Secretary of Defense Christopher Miller in late 2020 |
Transition Block | Reported to have blocked some Defense officials from aiding the Biden transition |
Involvement in Trump Documents Investigation
Event | Details |
Documents Dispute | Involved in defending Trump’s handling of classified documents after leaving office |
Testimony | Patel invoked his Fifth Amendment rights but later granted immunity to testify before a grand jury |
Public Statements | Asserted that Trump had declassified sensitive materials before leaving office |
Post-Government Career and Media Involvement
Career Development | Details |
Books | Authored The Plot Against the King, a children’s picture book published in 2022 |
Trump Media & Technology Group | Became a board member in 2022 for the company behind Truth Social |
Charitable Effort | Founded Fight With Kash, a 501(c)(3) organization focused on supporting “America First patriots” |
Public Appearances and Advocacy
Appearance | Details |
Podcast Appearance | Appeared on Steve Bannon’s War Room podcast, discussing retribution against political enemies |
Statements | Called for legal action against media figures and others who opposed Trump’s agenda |
Kash Patel Net Worth
Kash Patel’s net worth generally fall within a range of $1 million to $5.
Kash Patel Summary
Kashyap “Kash” Patel’s career has been characterized by significant involvement in U.S. national security, political controversies, and his unwavering loyalty to Donald Trump. Starting as a public defender and federal prosecutor, Patel’s rise to prominence came through his work as a senior aide to Congressman Devin Nunes, where he played a pivotal role in pushing back against the investigations into Russian interference in the 2016 election. His tenure in the Trump administration included positions on the National Security Council and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, where his activities and loyalty to Trump often placed him at the center of controversy, particularly during the Trump-Ukraine scandal. Post-government, Patel has continued to capitalize on his relationship with Trump, joining the Trump Media & Technology Group, authoring a children’s book, and engaging in political advocacy. His statements and actions have solidified his position as a prominent figure in conservative circles, especially among Trump supporters.