David Rohde, NBC News senior national security executive editor, detailed concerns among federal law enforcement circles on Sunday over Donald Trump nominating Kash Patel to replace Christopher Wray as FBI director.

Rohde told MSNBC’s Alex Witt that there’s “fear” over Patel — a loyalist to the president-elect — following conspiracy theories. He then pointed to Patel’s interest in closing the FBI’s D.C. headquarters and his vows to prosecute Trump’s enemies in the media as well as the government.

“And there is a concern that this type of politics, what it does most of all, is distract the FBI from its main goals which is cracking down on drug trafficking, violent crime across the U.S. and sort’ve guarding against foreign espionage in the United States,” Rohde said.

“People are tired of the politics on both sides inside the FBI, is what I’ve heard, and they’re worried this is just going to be more infighting and more of a distraction.”

An ex-senior law enforcement official who previously interacted with Patel, in an NBC News piece co-authored by Rohde, called his nomination “ridiculous” before adding that he’s “arguably the least qualified person ever nominated for a senior position in federal law enforcement.”

“I don’t know anything significant that he achieved at the DOJ. He was not well regarded as a prosecutor,” the unnamed official said of Patel, who previously served as chief of staff to acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller on the day of the Capitol riot.

Rohde, when asked by Witt if he expects Patel to face an “uphill battle” during his confirmation hearing, said he isn’t sure what to expect.

“It’s another test of the Senate, will they advise and consent? Will they act — do a thorough review of every nominee? And this is another challenge. I think it’s as significant as the Gaetz nomination so we’ll see what happens...,” he said.