(NewsNation) — A former counterterrorism aide to then-Vice President Mike Pence says she stands by her criticisms of Kash Patel, President-elect Donald Trump’s choice for FBI director, despite him threatening legal action against her.
Olivia Troye said on MSNBC this week that Patel would “lie about intelligence” and “lie about making things up on operations” if confirmed by the Senate. According to NewsNation partner The Hill, Troye said Patel would “put the lives of Navy SEALs at risk” as the director of the FBI.
The two worked together under the first Trump administration. Patel joined the National Security Council before he was named chief of staff for Christopher Miller, who was the secretary of defense during the end of Trump’s first term.
In response, Patel’s lawyer sent a letter to Troye, demanding she retract her comments.
Saying Troye’s comments were a “complete fabrication,” the letter accused her of knowing “the falsity of this smear” and spreading it “with the malicious intent” of downgrading Patel’s character.
“Mr. Patel demands that you retract your lies in a public statement on your X account within five business days of receipt of his letter,” Patel’s lawyer said. “Unless this step is taken, Mr. Patel will take swift legal action to uphold his rights and reputation.”
However, Troye maintained on “NewsNation Live” that “my statements are true.”
“This is fairly alarming that they would send such a letter forward like this given Kash’s past comments about how he wants to silence the media and go after the media and go after political opponents and critics,” Troye said. “I think this is exactly a sign of things to come should he end up in the role as FBI director, and I think that’s something that we should all take very seriously.”
