The Senate voted on Thursday to advance the nomination of Kash Patel as director of the F.B.I., despite concerns about his relative lack of experience and an unwavering loyalty to President Trump that many Democrats fear could threaten the bureau’s independence.
The 51-to-47 vote, essentially along party lines, sets the stage for a final vote later Thursday, a quick turnaround that could propel Mr. Patel, 44, to the top of the country’s premier federal law enforcement agency.
Democrats in the Senate had hoped to slow his nomination but have had little success swaying their colleagues across the aisle, who are wary of eliciting the political wrath of Mr. Trump or his powerful proxies.
This month, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee accused Mr. Patel of improperly directing a slew of forced departures at the bureau without having been confirmed as its leader.
Mr. Patel’s financial disclosures have also raised eyebrows, but none of those concerns has substantially shifted his support, allowing him to essentially glide through the confirmation process.
Senator John Thune, Republican of South Dakota and the majority leader, praised him on the floor, saying he looked forward to “working with Mr. Patel to restore the integrity of the F.B.I. and get it focused on its critical mission.”