FBI director defends leadership amid accusations of politicization (Photo: AP)
FBI Director Kash Patel came under heavy scrutiny during a Senate hearing Tuesday over his leadership of the bureau and how the investigation into conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s killing was handled. He will testify again before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday.
Patel defended himself strongly, calling it “disgusting” that people questioned his experience and that of his deputy, Dan Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and ex-podcaster, according to NBC.
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Patel praised Trump for supporting the FBI during the Kirk case, while media outlets, including Fox News, questioned his leadership. NBC News reported that Patel dined at Rao’s in New York City the night Kirk was killed, and posted on X that the “subject for the horrific shooting” was “in custody.”
WATCH LIVE: Lawmakers grill Kash Patel on his tenure as FBI director at Senate hearing. https://t.co/KnvcewcmwO
About 90 minutes later, he corrected that the person had been released. The next day, he flew to Utah and followed standard investigative steps, like releasing suspect photos. During the Senate hearing, Patel said posting that a “subject” was in custody wasn’t a mistake, though he admitted he could have been more “careful” in wording it in the heat of the moment. He also said FBI morale “has never been higher” and denied having “an enemies list” despite recent high-level departures and firings.
In his first appearance with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, Patel did not speak publicly while urging the public for help in finding the shooter. Later, at a Friday news conference after a 22-year-old suspect was arrested by a family friend, Patel praised Trump, saying his support helped the FBI make the arrest.
According to NBC, Sen. Richard Blumenthal said Patel “lied” during his confirmation about protecting employees from political retaliation. Sen. Cory Booker accused Patel of overseeing “generational destruction” of the bureau and said Trump would likely fire him. “As much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump, and not the Constitution, the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term, and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you,” Booker said.
Later while responding to the accusations, Patel clashed loudly with Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., over how the Trump administration handled questions about Jeffrey Epstein. Patel called Schiff “the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate,” a “disgrace to this institution,” and “an utter coward”. Schiff in response said, “You can make an internet troll the FBI director, but he will always be nothing more than an internet troll.”
Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, had to bang the gavel repeatedly to restore order, while Sen. Dick Durbin called for calm as the two argued.
The hearings come at a major time for the FBI, following the creation of a co-deputy director role filled by former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who will work alongside Deputy Director Dan Bongino. The lawsuit, also naming the Justice Department, Attorney General Pam Bondi, and the FBI, portrays Patel as overly focused on social media and concerned with retaining his position.
The White House defended Patel’s handling of the Charlie Kirk case, saying, “Director Patel is working night and day on this case. Anyone who doubts his resolve and dedication — especially when Charlie was such a close friend to him — simply is using this extremely sad moment in disgusting act of political gamesmanship. The focus is justice, and this killer will face the full wrath of the justice system.”
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FBI director defends leadership amid accusations of politicization (Photo: AP) 
