President Donald Trump's pick to head the FBI, Kash Patel, won the approval of the Republican-controlled U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday, clearing the way for a vote to confirm a director who has called for a radical reshaping of the nation's top law enforcement agency.

While many Trump allies have been able to use their ties to the president for media appearances, Patel has also built a personal brand off the president, launching a brand called “Based Apparel” that sells pro-Trump merchandise and “Fight with K$h” products referencing Patel.

The Senate Judiciary Committee has voted along party lines to advance the nomination of Kash Patel for FBI director