Patel ‘sparked mass confusion’ over Charlie Kirk shooting suspect, says Durbin
Durbin says Patel “sparked mass confusion” by announcing too early that the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk had been caught.
“At critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let professionals do their job,” says Durbin.
Key events
Patel refuses to address FBI firings
Questioned by Durbin on the recent firings of FBI agents, Patel said he would not get into personnel decisions and accused him of unfairly attacking FBI leadership.
Earlier in the hearing, Patel called it “absolutely disgraceful” to cite what he described as a “one-sided story” about the firings.
“Your attack on the current leadership of the men and women of the FBI is equally disgraceful,” Patel told Durbin.
The AP notes he is facing a lawsuit from three high-ranking FBI officials who have accused him of illegally firing them in a “campaign of retribution”.
Republican senator Lindsey Graham, a close ally of Trump, asked Patel what legal justification the administration is using for military strikes on Venezuelan boats that the president has said are carrying drugs.
Patel declined to answer, saying he would leave that to attorney general Pam Bondi.
“We will hunt down every single one of those narco-traffickers,” Patel added.
Patel defends deputy director Dan Bongino over conspiracy theory claims
Durbin asked Patel about statements from Dan Bongino before he became deputy FBI director that the bombs found at the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee on January 6 2021 were an “inside job”.
Patel declined to comment on Bongino’s comments, but called Durbin’s criticism of Bongino “disgusting”.
“So you have no evidence?” asked Durbin.
“I got a lot of evidence, and I’ll give it to you when I can,” Patel said.
The person who placed the bombs just before the attack on the US Capitol that day has never been identified.
During a combative exchange, Patel was pressed by Durbin over an unsigned memo released by the justice department in July that said there was no evidence of a Jeffrey Epstein “client list”.
Patel responded with a dig at Joe Biden, telling Durbin: “Would you have preferred I used autopen?”
Patel dodges questions on polygraph tests in tense exchange
The Senate hearing quickly became tense, with the FBI director repeatedly avoiding answering questions from Durbin on how the bureau has administered polygraph tests to staff.
Patel told Durbin, the top Democrat on the judiciary committee, that he wouldn’t discuss the specifics of how polygraph tests are administered or what questions come up.
Durbin responded: “You have to have a decent memory when you come before a committee.”
The Associated Press has previously reported that agents and senior executives alike have been subjected to polygraph exams aimed at ferreting out disclosures of information related to Patel.
Patel concluded his opening statement with a bit of a challenge for his critics: “I’m not going anywhere.”
He pointed to his experience as a congressional staffer and Trump administration official, saying: “If you want to criticize my 16 years of service, please bring it on.”
Patel defends actions during Kirk shooting investigation
Patel starts off defending his actions during the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation.
He tells the Senate panel that his agency – “at my direction” – successfully brought the suspect into custody.
While he tells lawmakers that his order to release “never-before-seen video of the suspect” played a crucial role in the arrest, the New York Times notes that local authorities have said the routine release of the images might have played a role but the key break came when a family member identified the suspect, Tyler Robinson.
Durbin calls for the temperature to be brought down amid rising political violence and highlights that there are victims on both sides.
Patel ‘sparked mass confusion’ over Charlie Kirk shooting suspect, says Durbin
Durbin says Patel “sparked mass confusion” by announcing too early that the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk had been caught.
“At critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let professionals do their job,” says Durbin.
Durbin criticises Patel’s diversion of personnel from critical missions to reviewing thousands of pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related records and to flag anywhere Donald Trump was mentioned – to find that there was no client list.
Durbin says a letter he sent to Patel asking about his role “in this cover-up” has gone unanswered.
Durbin says Patel “had no training or life experience for this position” adding “the result of that incompetence is staggering”.
The exodus of some 5,000 career civil servants has caused “brain drain” at the FBI, says Durbin, with many remaining civil servants diverted from their work in national security to the administration’s mass deportation agenda.
Durbin also notes reports of “loyalty tests” including use of polygraphs under Patel.
Durbin also notes Patel’s installation of “Maga loyalists as political appointees in key career positions, including conspiracy theorist Dan Bongino as deputy FBI director, the first time in history that this position has not been filled by an FBI agent”.
Durbin highlights the “unprecedented purge of public officials” at the bureau.
Patel has “already inflicted untold damage on the FBI”, says Durbin, “putting our national security and public safety at risk”.
Durbin highlights Patel’s false claim that “the FBI was planning January 6 for a year” and his “enemies list” of public servants.
Patel ‘came to the FBI with a political mission’, says Durbin
Democratic senator Dick Durbin has just called Kash Patel “arguably the most partisan FBI director ever” and said “he came to the FBI with a political mission” and “attacked the FBI with a vengeance”.
If you’d like to follow Patel’s hearing, there is a feed at the top of the blog.
