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

The prosecutor firings and a move to scrutinize thousands of F.B.I. agents were a powerful indication that the president has few qualms deploying federal law enforcement to punish perceived enemies.

As a congressman who led the first impeachment of President Trump, Mr. Schiff relished his role in the resistance. Now a senator, he must protect his state’s interests at a perilous time.

Kash Patel’s public comments on the QAnon conspiracy theory suggests he sees its adherents more as an audience to be courted rather than an ideology to follow.

President Trump’s grant of clemency to those who assaulted the Capitol in his name four years ago clashed with his predecessor’s decision to shield from retribution those who had sought to hold him to account.

Officer Daniel Hodges said he had come to grips with the idea that his professional duty now required him to protect a man whose supporters beat him, kicked him and tried to gouge his eyes out in 2021.

President Biden used his executive clemency power to protect people targeted by Donald J. Trump, including five members of his family as well as Liz Cheney, Anthony S. Fauci and Mark A. Milley.

Donald Trump is returning to the White House vowing to seek retribution. Those in his sights are worried both about him — and his supporters.