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FBI Director Kash Patel endured a contentious oversight hearing Tuesday, fending off heated criticism from Senate Democrats over the bureau’s handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files, the firing of senior agents, and his controversial social media posts during the investigation into the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Patel often leaned on the same evasive strategies employed by his predecessors, refusing to answer directly when pressed on accusations of politicization inside the bureau. But he also unleashed unusually sharp attacks on Democratic lawmakers who questioned his leadership.
“You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate,” Patel shouted at Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) during an exchange about the decision to move Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell to a lower-security facility. Patel also branded Schiff “a political buffoon at best,” prompting an outcry from Democrats and applause from Republicans.
Republican senators largely defended Patel, crediting him for overseeing the arrest of Kirk’s alleged killer and warning him not to “take the bait” from critics. “Just sit down in the quiet confidence that you’re doing a good job,” Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) advised.
Controversy over Kirk shooting response
The assassination of Kirk last week dominated much of the hearing. Democrats blasted Patel for prematurely announcing on social media that a suspect had been taken into custody—an assertion he later walked back when that person was released.
“What we had at the time was a subject in custody in relation to this investigation,” Patel told Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.). He conceded that his “verbiage” could have been clearer but rejected suggestions that the posts were a mistake.
Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the committee’s top Democrat, accused Patel of seeking publicity instead of prioritizing investigative integrity. “Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit … that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement: shut up and let the professionals do their job,” Durbin said.
Epstein case revisited
Patel also sought to deflect responsibility for the FBI’s controversial handling of Epstein evidence, blaming former U.S. Attorney Alex Acosta for cutting the 2007 plea deal that shielded Epstein from federal charges.
“If I were the FBI director then, it wouldn’t have happened,” Patel said, arguing that court-ordered restrictions stemming from the agreement have prevented the current administration from releasing additional files.
Firings spark accusations of political bias
Democrats repeatedly grilled Patel over his decision to fire multiple senior FBI agents earlier this summer. Some of those dismissed have filed lawsuits alleging political retaliation tied to their work on Trump-related investigations.
Patel denied the claims, insisting that “no firing was due to case assignment or political retribution” and that decisions were made solely on professional grounds.
A warning from Booker
The sharpest exchange came when Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) warned Patel that his loyalty to President Trump would eventually cost him his job.
“Mr. Patel, I think you’re not going to be around long,” Booker said. “As much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump … he is not loyal to people like you.”
Patel shot back: “That rant of false information does not bring this country together.”
The two shouted over each other, with Booker accusing Patel of weakening the FBI and Patel calling the senator “an embarrassment.”
Republicans seized on the moment to accuse Democrats of political theater. “It used to be that to see theater you had to go to the Kennedy Center,” Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) quipped. “Now you need only watch Democrats berating the FBI director for doing his job.”
