FBI Director Kash Patel faced an hours-long grilling Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee during the bureau’s annual oversight hearing, clashing with several Democratic senators over his leadership and recent actions.
The most heated exchanges came during questioning from Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ), who accused Patel of undermining the FBI.
Patel responded by citing what he described as “historic success” during his seven months leading the bureau, including major arrests and seizures.
Patel also sparred with Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), but another notable moment came during an exchange with Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL). Durbin pressed Patel on why a July 7 memorandum was unsigned.
“Why was this July 7th memorandum unsigned?” Durbin asked.
Patel responded that the question was misplaced. “Would you have preferred I used an autopen?” he replied, referencing the controversy over the Biden-Harris administration’s use of autopen signatures.
Patel emphasized that the memo carried the insignia of both the Department of Justice and the FBI and was therefore official regardless of a signature.
The hearing also revisited past disputes involving Durbin.
Republicans have criticized him for previously rejecting efforts to subpoena unredacted flight logs from Jeffrey Epstein’s private plane.
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) had requested the subpoena on the record, but Durbin claimed he had never been asked to issue one.
Later in the hearing, Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) pressed Patel on personnel changes at the FBI.
Blumenthal suggested Patel was dismissing employees at the direction of President Donald Trump or the White House.
Patel rejected that characterization.
“The only way people get terminated at the FBI is if they fail to meet the muster of the job and their duties,” Patel said.
He explained that discussions over staffing levels take place in the context of the budget process and are based on “budgetary purposes.”
Blumenthal asked Patel if he had ever been told to fire anyone for participating in investigations involving President Trump.
Patel responded, “I don’t receive directions to do that.”
He stated that decisions about personnel are his alone.
When Blumenthal attempted to summarize Patel’s testimony by suggesting he admitted to taking directions from the White House, Patel interrupted.
He said Blumenthal’s summary was inaccurate and not consistent with what he had testified. After the exchange, Blumenthal moved on without further pressing the point.
While Democrats challenged Patel over his handling of internal matters, Republican senators focused attention on other concerns.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley (R-IA) referenced allegations that the FBI had targeted Republican organizations, including Turning Point USA, founded by Charlie Kirk.
Grassley suggested that the committee should look into the issue further.
The oversight hearing reflected ongoing partisan disputes over the FBI’s leadership and direction.
Patel defended his record as director, pointing to recent accomplishments while forcefully rejecting claims that he was influenced by political considerations.
