Patel Breaks with Trump on Jan. 6 Pardons at FBI Confirmation Hearing

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to serve a 10-year term as FBI director, distanced himself from Trump’s sweeping pardons of Jan. 6 rioters, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee that he did not believe those who assaulted law enforcement officers deserved leniency.

“I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement, including any violence on Jan. 6,” Patel stated.

His remarks signaled a divide within Trump’s administration over the former president’s controversial decision to pardon nearly all Jan. 6 defendants, including individuals convicted of assaulting officers with weapons like batons, bear spray, and flagpoles. Only a handful of sentences were commuted rather than fully pardoned.

GOP Senator: “The Pardons Sucked”

Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) openly criticized Trump’s decision, sharing that he had personally expressed his disagreement to Capitol Police officers.

“I told them I actually thought the pardons of people who did harm to police officers sucked,” Tillis said. “I respectfully disagree with the president or whoever likely gave him advice.”

Before the Inauguration Day pardons, key members of Trump’s administration had already signaled opposition.

  • Vice President JD Vance: “Violent rioters obviously shouldn’t be pardoned.”
  • Attorney General nominee Pam Bondi: “I condemn any violence against officers.”

Patel Clashes with Schiff Over Jan. 6 Choir Fundraising

During a heated exchange with Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), Patel defended his involvement in fundraising efforts for the families of nonviolent Jan. 6 defendants. However, Schiff confronted him over his promotion of a song by the “J6 Choir”, a group featuring incarcerated rioters.

When Schiff invited Patel to turn and face the Capitol Police officers in the hearing room, Patel declined.

“I never, never, ever accepted violence against law enforcement,” Patel insisted.

Patel Dodges 2020 Election Questions

While Patel firmly condemned violence, he refused to acknowledge that Trump lost the 2020 election. Instead, he offered only a carefully worded response:

“Joe Biden is the president.”

Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) criticized his evasiveness, calling it “alarming”.

“The FBI is the primary agency responsible for investigating election-related crimes, including fraud and the denial of voting rights,” Hirono said. “So being able to separate fact from conspiracy theories around elections is an important thing for the FBI director.”

FBI Shake-Up: Trump’s Effort to Reshape the Bureau

Patel’s nomination comes amid a sweeping Trump-led restructuring of the Justice Department and FBI:

  • DOJ officials involved in Trump investigations have been fired.
  • New hires include a GOP staffer and an associate of Elon Musk.
  • FBI leaders were given a choice: resign, retire, or be demoted.

Meanwhile, former U.S. attorney Matthew Graves, who oversaw Jan. 6 prosecutions, revealed that Trump’s actions shut down at least 400 pending riot-related cases, many involving violent assaults on law enforcement.

“A substantial portion of those cases involved individuals assaulting officers, and they won’t be held accountable,” Graves said.

Federal Judge Rebukes Trump’s Jan. 6 Pardons

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Paul L. Friedman issued a scathing rebuke of Trump’s claims of a “grave national injustice” in the Jan. 6 prosecutions.

“Just because the Proclamation was signed by the President does not transform up into down or down into up as if peering through the looking glass of Alice in Wonderland,” Friedman wrote.

He praised the courts for thoroughly documenting the violence and destruction of the riot, ensuring historical accountability.

Will Patel Be Confirmed?

Despite Patel’s break with Trump on pardons, his refusal to acknowledge the 2020 election results and his ties to Trump’s broader DOJ overhaul are likely to draw strong opposition from Democrats.

However, Republican senators are divided, and Patel’s law-and-order stance on Jan. 6 violence may help secure support from moderates.

His confirmation remains uncertain, with key senators weighing Patel’s independence from Trump’s influence against his alignment with the administration’s broader agenda.

About J. Williams

Check Also

National Nuclear Security Administration

Trump Administration’s Mass Firings Lead to Chaos at Nuclear Security Agency

The Trump administration’s rapid-fire approach to slashing federal jobs has led to unexpected turmoil within …

Leave a Reply