Patel spars with Democrats at heated Senate Judiciary hearing

FBI Director Kash Patel faced sharp criticism from Democratic senators during a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday, in an appearance marked by personal exchanges and disputes over the bureau's recent actions.

The hearing covered Patel's dismissal of agents involved in investigations of President Donald Trump, a series of media leak probes, and questions about whether FBI employees could be sent to polling places on Election Day.

Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey called Patel "an incompetent lackey" and "an embarrassment to the agency," adding that the director "wouldn't qualify even to be an FBI agent." He also told Patel, "What a mockery you are."

Patel responded sharply, telling Booker, "You are the biggest mockery in the United States Senate, and you're sitting next to Schiff," referring to Sen. Adam Schiff, a California Democrat and frequent critic of the director.

Pressed by Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont on whether he would interfere with voters in November, Patel said, "I pledge unequivocally that I will not participate in your charade of lies."

Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut asked Patel whether firing the president's political opponents was more important than retaining decades of intelligence expertise on threats from Iran. Patel replied that his priority was preventing a "weaponized FBI."

The director was also questioned about the bureau's hiring standards, defending a policy change that allows some applicants who had engaged in prostitution or bestiality to be considered for employment. Patel said the change was intended to ensure that victims of such acts are not automatically disqualified.

"We did not want to punish victims of bestiality, victims who were trafficked," Patel said, adding that the FBI would not "target victims and prevent them from serving."

Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana asked Patel why he had not rejected the proposal outright when it was first recommended to him. Patel said that was his initial reaction, but that subordinates explained cases involving people who had been forced into such acts and had applied to the bureau.

The FBI issued guidance this spring lifting a categorical hiring restriction on applicants who had previously participated in prostitution, and made a similar change regarding childhood experience in bestiality. The bureau still intends to bar some applicants revealed to have engaged in prostitution, including those who did so within the past 10 years.