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
During a heated exchange, Democratic Senator Richard Blumenthal asked Patel whether “anyone from the White House contacted you about personnel decisions?”.
“I completely disagree with your entire premise that I have lied or am misleading the FBI” Patel responded, referring to earlier comments made by Blumenthal accusing Patel of lying to lawmakers during his confirmation hearing when he told them that FBI agents would not face political retribution.
“The only way people get terminated at the FBI is if they fail to meet the muster of their job and their duties, and that is where I will leave it. You accusing me of lying is something I don’t take lightly, but I’m not going to get into a tit for tat with you.”
Blumenthal pressed Patel again, asking once more: “Has anyone from the White House contacted you about personnel decisions?”.
Patel replied, “generally speaking, we always discuss with the White House, OMB during the budget process, how many personnel we need, who we need where.”
“Any termination at the FBI was a decision that I made based on the evidence that I have as director of the FBI,” Patel added. “It’s my job and I’m not going to shy away from it.”
During the hearing, Republican Louisiana Senator John Kennedy asked Patel about the investigation into Jeffrey Epstein and Epstein’s crimes.
“Who, if anyone, did Epstein traffic these young women to?” Kennedy asked.
Patel responded, that “there is no credible information, none … that he trafficked to other individuals” adding that “if there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals.”
During his remarks, Kennedy said that “this issue is not going to go away,” and said that he believes the “central question for the American people is this: They know that Epstein trafficked young women for sex to himself. They want to know who if anyone else he trafficked these young women to.”
When asked by Democratic Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota whether he would support an assaults weapon ban, Patel said that “there are instances on this legislation that could prevent future attacks, but I’m not going to weigh in to the creation of legislation.”
While Patel is answering questions from lawmakers, President Donald Trump continues to defend Patel’s handling of the Kirk shooting investigation.
Speaking to reporters on the South Lawn, Trump said that “take a look at what he did with respect to this horrible person… He did it in two days” referring to the fact that the suspect was taken into custody after a 33-hour manhunt. Authorities say that the suspect turned himself in.
“It took other similar cases four days, five days, four years if you look at certain shooters” Trump added.
In an exchange with Republican Senator Josh Hawley of Missouri, Patel said that the FBI is investigating “anyone and everyone” who was involved in the Discord group chat with the 22-year-old who has been named a suspect in the killing of Kirk.
“We are investigating Charlie’s assassination fully and completely and running out every lead related to any allegation of broader violence” Patel said.
Patel said that the FBI is “investigating anyone and everyone involved in that Discord chat” with the alleged shooter, where he reportedly confessed to the fatal shooting.
When asked about the number of Discord users in the chatroom, Patel said that it had “a lot more” than 20 people.
Patel says FBI investigating Discord group chat where Kirk shooting suspect allegedly confessed
Patel told Republican senator Josh Hawley that the Discord chat in which the Kirk shooting suspect allegedly confessed to the murder was “leaked”.
Asked by Hawley whether the Kirk shooting is being treated as part of a broader trend of violence against religious groups, Patel responded: “We are investigating Charlie’s assassination fully and completely and running out every lead related to any allegation of broader violence.”
Patel also said that the FBI is investigating “anyone and everyone” who was involved in an online gaming chatroom on Discord with the alleged shooter. That chatroom involved “a lot more” than 20 people, Patel said, adding: “We’re running them all down.”
Patel denies he has an enemies list
Democratic senator Sheldon Whitehouse puts it to Patel that there have been “adverse actions of various kinds taken against” 20 out of 60 people on his so-called enemies list.
“You’ve been in office for seven months. At that rate, you’ve got 14 months until you’ve hit all 60,” Whitehouse said.
“That is an entirely inaccurate presupposition,” Patel replied. “I do not have an enemies list. You can continue to characterize it as you wish. The only actions we take, generally speaking, for personnel of the FBI, are ones based on merit and qualification and your ability to uphold your constitutional duty. You fall short, you don’t work there anymore.”
Patel identified 60 alleged “deep state” actors in his 2023 book “Government Gangsters”. He has rejected the idea that it’s an enemies list.
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 unfounded 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 6 January 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.
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