The Senate is voting Thursday on Kash Patel's nomination to serve as director of the FBI, with Republicans poised to confirm a key ally of President Trump amid warnings from Democrats that he could use the bureau to target the president's perceived political enemies.

WASHINGTON— The Senate was set to vote Thursday on whether to confirm Kash Patel as FBI director, a decision that could place him atop the nation's premier federal law enforcement agency despite concerns from Democrats over his qualifications and the prospect that he would do President Donald Trump's bidding.

Republicans welcomed Kash Patel's confirmation, seeing him as someone who can fix the FBI's alleged targeting of conservatives in recent years.