LOS ANGELES (OC).–Slammed by Democrats today in the Senate Judiciary Committee, 45-year-old FBI Director Kash Patel took a beating all because Democrats find themselves taking their anger out on all Trump appointees. Patel was criticized for his handling of the Sept. 10 assassination of the Charlie Kirk, accusing him of revealing too much information too soon before federal law enforcement knew what was happening. Patel told the public that two suspects in custody were released because a lack of evidence. Then, once local law enforcement arrested the suspect Tyler Robinson, Patel told the press that they “got their man.” Why Patel’s disclosures were considered so unprofessional is anyone’s guess. Patel gave information to the public as soon as it was know, not waiting to play games letting the information go through appropriate law enforcement channels.
Patel lost some of his poise seen in his confirmation hearings where Democrats were equally critical, calling him a patsy for President Donald Trump. Forced into the hot seat again, Patel wasn’t as cool listen to a parade of Democrats butcher him in the hearing. Senators like Cory Booker (D-N.J.) grandstanded, taking cheap shots at Patel, saying he wasn’t long for the job. But Trump knows with Patel he has a loyal appointee, someone who wouldn’t stab him in the back. “I believe you are failing,” Booker said to Patel. Bookers’s attacks on Patel were so egregioiusly partisan, Patel should have not let them rattle him. “Because of your failures of leadership, I think you’re not going to be around long. I thin this migh be your last full oversight hearing,” Booker told Patel. Booker talks through his hat, only engaging in the most egregious partisan attacks on Patel.
There’s nothing Patel did inappropriately in the Kirk investigation. It just turns out that local law enforcement and the FBI didn’t nab Robinson through conventional police work. It took Robinson’s father to turn in his son when he realized that was his son pictures on video of him running and jumping off the roof where he shot and killed Charlie Kirk. Patel’s reaction to Booker shows that he needs to toughen up when letting Democrats haze him in hearings, primarily trying to score political points. Going after Patel was an egregious display of partisanship by Booker, showing the public exactly what’s wrong with the system. “Because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the constitution of the United States of America . . .” Booker ranted at Patel. No one in the hearing asked Booker to show more respect to the witness.
Booker wasn’t the only Democrat to go ape on Patel, all complaining that his handling of the Charlie Kirk matter. Yet even as they were ripping him, it was clear they were venting frustrations about Trump they accuse of destroying American democracy. Booker knew his own theatrics played to the cameras but that didn’t stop him from grandstanding. Then Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) had his time to take a shot a Patel. But Patel was ready for Schiff, a known Trump enemy who led Trump’s first impeachment trial, claiming Trump demanded dirt on Biden from Ukraine’s 47-year-old President Volodymyr Zelensky. “We have countlessly proven you to be a liar in Russiagate, in Jan. 6. You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate, you are a disgrace to this institution and an utter coward. You are a political buffoon at best,” Patel said.
Taking shots at Patel does nothing to change Trump’s mind about running the FBI. Trump liked Patel’s response to Schiff, finally see him confronted in a public setting. Schiff once said after Special Counsel Robert Mueller cleared Trump of any wrong doing in Russia that he had his own evidence proving Trump colluded with Russia. Schiff never produce any evidence that Trump colluded with Russia. Schiff accused Patel of reducing the sentence of Epstein conspirator Ghislaine Maxwell, placing her in a low security prison. Patel responded back that it was the federal bureau of prisons that made that call. Instead of using the hearing to air real issues related to the FBI, Democrats used their time to grandstand politically, looking ahead to the 2026 Midterm elections. Nothing was said of any substance, only attacking Patel because he works for Trump.
Holding public hearings where partisan politics plays the biggest role in the Senate Judiciary Committee shows that there’s limited value to holding hearings. Patel came out swinging at Booker and Schiff, realizing that he has nothing to lose setting the record straight. When the gloves came off with Schiff, it showed that Patel was ready to go at with Schiff and other partisan Democrats. Patel has done nothing wrong in handling the Epstein files or the Charlie Kirk assassination. He has gone about his business professionally, irking Democrats and the fake news because he remains unflappable. When Booker kept shouting at Patel in the hearing, it was highly inappropriate, causing Sen. Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) to rebuke Booker for acting out of line. Watching the Senate Judiciary Committee in action, it’s clear they can’t get beyond partisan political plaguing the system.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in national and global news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
