The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday advanced the nomination of Kash Patel in a strict party-line vote, clearing the way for President Trump’s pick to lead the FBI to get a vote on the

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 vote moved Mr. Patel, a Trump loyalist, one step closer to leading the nation’s premier law enforcement agency.