Powerful MAGA voices are hailing him as their No. 1 avenger to hunt down and decapitate the modern-day Hydra known as the “deep state,” a central villain of the conspiracy theory that gained momentum during Trump’s first term in office.

Sen. Alex Padilla (Calif.), a Democratic member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, said President-elect Trump’s nomination of Kash Patel to head the FBI is as “offensive” as his derailed choice of former Rep.