During a contentious Senate hearing, Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, strongly criticized former Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer for their roles in the January 6 Capitol riot. Patel explained that the Trump administration had authorized up to 20,000 National Guard troops to secure the Capitol, but requests for assistance from local authorities were delayed. He highlighted that Capitol Police and the Sergeant at Arms, reporting to Pelosi and Schumer, had rejected these offers of help.
Patel also defended his qualifications during a heated exchange with Sen. Amy Klobuchar, rejecting accusations of political bias and emphasizing his law enforcement experience. He rejected the misrepresentation of his past statements and vowed to prioritize a depoliticized, constitutional approach if confirmed as FBI Director.
