WASHINGTON—Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) relentlessly pressed Donald Trump’s FBI nominee, Kash Patel, during Thursday’s confirmation hearing, using his own past statements to challenge his credibility. Patel, a staunch Trump ally, faced intense scrutiny over remarks he made on podcasts, in social media posts, and in his book—some of which he admitted to while dismissing others as “Democrats making up lies.”
Despite hours of questioning, Klobuchar refused to back down, determined to hold Patel accountable for his public comments. Fox News congressional correspondent Chad Pergram noted on X that Klobuchar was unwavering in her approach, particularly regarding Patel’s statements about the January 6th attack on the U.S. Capitol.
“When I asked you about the Capitol Police officers who testified in the January 6th hearings, and you accused them of lying,” Klobuchar said, confronting Patel. “You said, and I quote, ‘I don’t think that’s accurate.’ I actually have the transcript here, which was reported by The Washington Post. And that was in March of 2024 on Joe Rogan’s podcast.”
She then played a clip from the podcast in which Rogan asked Patel: “The Capitol Police in that fake January 6th committee—they didn’t tell the truth, did they?” Patel’s response was direct. “No, not just them. Many others. And lying under oath is a federal offense and they should be investigated for it.”
Klobuchar seized on his statement, asking Patel point-blank: “Do you believe that about the police officers?” Rather than giving a direct answer, Patel attempted to sidestep the question. “It was a general statement and a mischaracterization of what I said,” he claimed.
He then attempted to push back against the senator’s line of questioning. “I encourage you to read the rest of the interviews,” Patel said. “This is why snippets of information are often misleading and detrimental to this committee’s advice and consent.”
Klobuchar’s interrogation underscored the deep partisan divide over Patel’s nomination. While Democrats view him as an overtly political pick with a history of undermining federal law enforcement, many Republicans have remained steadfast in their support, brushing aside concerns about his rhetoric.
As the hearing concluded, it remained unclear whether Patel’s evasions had done enough to secure his confirmation or whether the mounting controversy surrounding his past statements would ultimately derail his nomination.