Kashyap Pramod Vinod Patel, better known as Kash Patel, US President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), has revealed that he too had faced racism as a person of colour in the US.

Patel, who was born to India-origin parents who immigrated to the US from Uganda, made the admission while facing the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing on Thursday.

CREDIT: REUTERS

According to Patel, he faced racist attacks following the January 6, 2020, Capitol Hill riots. Patel, a staunch supporter of Trump, had come under fire for his support for the rioters.

Kash Patel raised money for January 6 insurrectionists who attacked law enforcement.

I asked him to look those officers in the eye and tell them he was proud of what he did.

He couldn't. pic.twitter.com/VEyczc320Y

— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) January 30, 2025

Responding to a question from Senator Lindsey Graham on whether he has ever been subjected to racism as an individual, Patel said he didn't want to get into details with his family present there.

"If you look at the record from January 6th, where I testified before that committee, because of my personal information being released by the Congress, I was subjected to a direct and significant threat on my life. And I put that information in the record. I had to move," Patel said.

CREDIT: REUTERS

"I was called a detestable -- and I'll apologise if I don't get it all right, but it's in the record -- a detestable sand nigger who had no right being in this country. You should go back to where you came from. You belong with your terrorist home friends," he added.

Patel was born in New York to Hindu parents who had fled Idi Amin's dictatorship in Uganda.

CREDIT: AP

Patel's parents and other family members, who are currently settled in India, had travelled to the US to witness the confirmation process.

Patel, who introduced his family members to the Senate, welcomed them saying, "Jai Shri Krishna."

This is Kash Patel, the FBI Director nominee, addressing the Senate Judiciary Committee.

Recently, Indian-origin people, especially Hindus, faced hate from white supremacists in the US. Many Trump supporters pushed to drop Indian-origin figures like Kash Patel from the cabinet.… pic.twitter.com/ckDUT2PNbe

— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) January 30, 2025

If confirmed, he would be the first Hindu and Indian American to be FBI Director.

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