Who is Adam Schiff, whose remarks on Trump loyalist Kash Patel angered Elon Musk?

Indian-American Kash Patel sworn in as FBI Director despite Democratic objections, sparking sharp criticism from Senator Adam Schiff.

: Despite strong objections from Democrats, Indian-American Kash Patel was formally sworn in as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director on Friday (February 21, 2025).

U.S. Senator Adam Schiff was also one of the most vocal critics of Mr. Patel’s appointment as FBI director. Mr. Schiff described Mr. Patel as a “political hack” and a “sycophant” who is unqualified for the position. He went on to add that Mr. Patel is absolutely unqualified for the job and the Republicians are also aware about the same.

Mr. Schiff added, “The only qualification Kash Patel has to be FBI director is that when everyone else in the first Trump administration said ‘no, I won’t do that, that crosses moral, ethical, legal lines’, Kash Patel said sign me up.”

Meanwhile, in a bid to block Mr. Patel’s confirmation in the final attempt, about half a dozen Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats gathered outside FBI headquarters earlier that day.

Following Mr. Schiff’s sharp criticism, speculations have surfaced that he may be added to list of “enemies” Kash Patel mentioned in his 2023 book Government Gangsters. Mr Patel, did not hold back in his response to Mr Schiff’s comments. “Adam Schiff is the worst criminal in Congress in the last 250 years,” he said. Billionaire Elon Musk echoed this, saying, “Adam Schiff is a criminal.”

The 64-year-old Democratic Senator, Adam Schiff served as the U.S. Representative for California’s 28th congressional district since 2001 and he had gained national prominence for leading the impeachment proceedings against U.S. President Donald Trump in 2019.

Born in Framingham, Massachusetts and graduated from Danville’s Monte Vista High School in the Bay Area, he went on to both Stanford University and Harvard Law School.