Photo: JIM WATSON / AFP / Getty Images
FBI Director Kash Patel faced intense questioning from lawmakers on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday (September 16) regarding the Charlie Kirk murder investigation, his management of the FBI, and an alleged 'enemies list.'
During the hearing, Patel was asked about his early public statement that the suspect in the Charlie Kirk case was in custody. Democratic Senator Peter Welch pressed Patel on why he made the statement before Tyler Robinson's family had turned him in. Patel explained, "What we had at the time was a subject in custody in relation to this investigation. I put that information out."
He admitted he could have been more careful but denied that his tweet was a mistake.
Patel also defended the FBI's handling of the Kirk investigation, stating that more than 20 people involved in an online chat, where Robinson allegedly admitted to the killing, would be questioned. He confirmed that Robinson had a relationship with his transgender roommate and praised the FBI's transparency, noting that Robinson's father recognized him from an FBI video.
Patel got into a heated exchange with Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California over the handling of the Epstein investigation. The two yelled over each other, with Patel telling Schiff, "You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate."
"You are disgrace to this institution and an utter coward," he continued as Chairman Chuck Grassley slammed his gavel calling for order.
The two continued to argue, with Schiff saying, "You can make an internet troll the FBI director, but will always be nothing more than an internet troll."
Eventually, Grassley was able to regain control of the hearing tell both men to "be quiet."
The hearing also touched on Patel's management of FBI personnel and the firing of agents. Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey got into a shouting match with Patel as he accused the FBI director of making America "weaker and less safe."
"You have pushed out senior FBI agents with decades of knowledge and experience," Booker said. "In fact, this is the first time in FBI history that neither the director nor the deputy director have any experience with the FBI. You’ve shifted the agency’s priorities primarily to pursuing Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda."
"I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe," Booker added.
"You don’t get to say that America is not safer under this leadership," Patel countered noting that "America is safer because of the FBI."
Booker then suggested that Patel's time as FBI Director was running short.
"Here’s the thing, Mr. Patel, I think you’re not going to be around long," Booker said. "I think this might be your last oversight hearing."
"Sir, that rant of false information does not bring this country together," Patel responded, prompting a shouting match between the two men.
Grassley was forced to step in to get the two to stop arguing.
"I announced at the beginning of this meeting that this back-and-forth, talking over each other, doesn't work," Grassley said. "And I said, if that happened, I asked Patel not to respond, and I was going to give him some time after the senator's time was up, to respond, and that he has the privilege to do that uninterrupted."
Booker was not happy with Grassley's handling of the meeting, and left shortly after.