FBI Director Kash Patel touted his leadership of the nation鈥檚 top federal law enforcement agency as he faced questions from senators about the investigation into Charlie Kirk鈥檚 killing, the case against sex offender Jeffrey Epstein and the firings of senior FBI officials who have accused Patel of illegal political retribution.
His appearance Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee represents the first oversight hearing of Patel鈥檚 young but tumultuous tenure and provides a high-stakes platform for him to confront skeptical Democrats at a time of internal upheaval and mounting concerns about political violence inside the United States, which President Donald Trump has squarely blamed on the left. Patel listed a series of what he said were accomplishments of his first months on the job, including his efforts to fight violent crime and protect children.
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Patel hearing explodes in fiery exchange with Sen. Cory Booker
Patel and the New Jersey Democrat got into a shouting match as Booker charged that Patel is responsible for a 鈥済enerational destruction of the nation鈥檚 premier law enforcement agency.鈥
Patel fired back at Booker, telling him that he was an 鈥渆mbarrassment.鈥
For several moments, the Republican chairman of the committee, Sen. Chuck Grassley, pounded his gavel but struggled to gain control of the two men.
Still, Booker predicted that Patel would not last long in his post. He told Patel that Trump 鈥渨ill cut you loose. This may be the last time I have a hearing with you.鈥
Patel pushes back on Democrats saying he got job because of Trump loyalty
Patel took the opportunity to give a fiery retort to Democratic senators who say the reason he got the job was his loyalty to President Donald Trump.
Patel鈥檚 leadership of the FBI has been marked by turmoil and Democratic accusations that he鈥檚 using the law enforcement agency to carry out Trump鈥檚 goals.
But Patel told the Senate panel that it was 鈥渁n entire falsehood鈥 to suggest that he only got the job because he was a Trump loyalist.
Patel pointed to his experience as an attorney, congressional staffer and administration official, saying, 鈥淭here was no loyalty then. There鈥檚 no loyalty now to anything but the Constitution.鈥
Party switcher Geoff Duncan announces run for Georgia governor as Democrat
Former Republican and onetime Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan is running as a Democrat for governor, a remarkable step for a staunch critic of Trump who left the conservative fold in a region where party switchers have gone in the other direction for generations.
鈥淚鈥檝e never wavered in taking on Trump. So Georgia Republicans threw me out of their party,鈥 Duncan said in his announcement video released Tuesday. 鈥淚 was leaving anyway. Now I鈥檓 running for governor as a proud Democrat.鈥
A 50-year-old resident of a Republican stronghold north of Atlanta, Duncan joins an already crowded field of lifelong Democrats. Top candidates include former Atlanta Mayor , state Sen. and former labor commissioner .
Trump criticizes reporters after suing the New York Times, tells one 鈥榶ou have 鈥榓 lot of hate in your heart鈥
Trump seemed miffed when an Australian Broadcasting Corp. reporter asked about his wealth since returning to office. Trump told the reporter, 鈥橸ou鈥檙e hurting Australia very much right now, and they want to get along with me.鈥
He told the reporter that Prime Minister Anthony Albanese would be visiting soon and 鈥淚鈥檓 going to tell him about you. You set a very bad tone.鈥
The president also criticized ABC News correspondent Jonathan Karl, whom he鈥檚 known for years. Karl asked Trump about the attorney general鈥檚 comments that she will be going after hate speech after the killing of Charlie Kirk.
Karl told Trump that even some of his allies say hate speech is free speech.
Trump responded by telling Karl the administration would 鈥減robably go after people like you, because you treat me so unfairly, it鈥檚 hate. You have a lot of hate in your heart.鈥
Lawmakers behind the TikTok bill say they鈥檙e tracking discussions about a deal
The House Select Committee on China says any deal between Beijing and Washington must comply with a law requiring TikTok to be divested from its Chinese ownership or face a ban in the U.S.
A framework deal was reached over the future of the popular social media platform at a trade meeting Monday in Madrid. Details remain unknown. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi, the committee鈥檚 ranking Democrat, said he wants information on the ownership structure.
鈥淯nderpinning all of our concerns is the Chinese Communist Party鈥檚 access to American data,鈥 he said. The social media platform needs user data to determine what to show users, and Krishnamoorthi said he would be open to discussions if the app is protected from Beijing鈥檚 infiltration.
Democratic senator tells Patel: 鈥榊ou lied to us.鈥
In a tense exchange, Sen. Richard Blumenthal accused the FBI director of lying when he told lawmakers at his confirmation hearing that agents would not be subject to political retribution.
Patel objected to the accusation, telling the Democrat from Connecticut: 鈥淵ou accusing me of lying is something I don鈥檛 take lightly, but I鈥檓 not going to get into a tit for tat with you.鈥
The FBI director insisted that decisions to fire certain FBI agents were made by him, not the White House.
鈥淎ny termination at the FBI was a decision that I made based on the evidence that I have as director of the FBI,鈥 Patel said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 my job and I鈥檓 not going to shy away from it.鈥
Patel says FBI has 鈥榥o credible information鈥 that Epstein trafficked teenage girls to others
鈥淭here is no credible information 鈥 none. If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals,鈥 Patel said, while also acknowledging that previous investigations of Epstein were limited.
Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican, said that kind of answer was unlikely to satisfy demands to release more information.
鈥淭his issue is not going to go away,鈥 Kennedy said. 鈥淎nd I think 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.鈥
Patel said that the current case files only included 鈥渓imited search warrants鈥 between 2006 and 2007 because federal prosecutors in Florida had previously cut a secret deal with Epstein that allowed him to avoid prosecution for his previous actions
Patel says he鈥檚 concerned about threats against judges
Patel says the FBI has 35 open investigations into threats against judges, who have faced a sharp increase in violent messages in recent years.
Federal judges were targeted in 17 of those cases, while the others involved threats against state court judges, Patel said.
The FBI director said he鈥檚 concerned about the problem, and the agency is referring cases for prosecution when it鈥檚 supported by the evidence.
Judges have increasingly spoken out against threats of violence, pointing to worrying rhetoric from both sides of the political aisle in recent years and saying the threats have reached a new peak during the second Trump administration.
Head of LA immigration crackdown and DHS secretary say they’re in Chicago
U.S. Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in an X post that she was 鈥渙n the ground鈥 Tuesday in Chicago 鈥渢o make clear we are not backing down.鈥
鈥淥ur work is only beginning,鈥 she said.
, who spearheaded the immigration crackdown that sparked widespread protests in Los Angeles, also announced his arrival: 鈥淲ell, Chicago, we鈥檝e arrived!鈥 he said. 鈥淥peration At Large is here to continue the mission we started in Los Angeles.鈥
Advocates for immigrants say they鈥檝e noticed in detentions by ICE agents in Chicago as the nation鈥檚 third-largest city braces for Trump鈥檚 promised immigration crackdown and National Guard deployment. The threats have deepened dread among already fearful immigrant communities, which cancelled and delayed Mexican Independence Day celebrations. An ICE officer a suspect trying to evade arrest last week.
House Speaker warns leaders not to call political opponents 鈥榝ascists鈥
Johnson also defended employers who take action against employees whose comments go too far.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 not the government censoring speech, that鈥檚 personal behavior and decorum,鈥 the Republican from Louisiana said.
Johnson noted that Trump has been called 鈥渢he most despicable names鈥 and he urged all leaders to tone it down.
鈥淟eaders cannot call their political opponents Nazis and fascists and enemies of the state because they disagree with their policy priorities,鈥 he said.
Johnson says bill to avoid shutdown being unveiled soon
Speaker Mike Johnson said a bill to avoid a partial government shutdown at month鈥檚 end would not include health care provisions sought by Democrats.
鈥淚t will be a clean, short-term continuing resolution. End of story,鈥 Johnson told reporters. He said the measure will be unveiled Tuesday.
Minority leader Hakeem Jeffries has said House Democrats won鈥檛 support a partisan bill that 鈥渃ontinues to gut the healthcare of the American people.鈥
But Johnson said Republicans are not going to revisit their big tax cut bill that trimmed Medicaid spending over the coming decade, and said the looming expiration of tax credits for some health insurance coverage is a 鈥淒ecember policy issue.鈥
鈥淭he same Democrats who decried government shutdowns under President Biden appear to have no heartache whatsoever at walking our nation off that cliff right now,鈥 Johnson said.
Trump files $15 billion defamation lawsuit against The New York Times
The lawsuit against the paper and four of its journalists, filed Monday in U.S. District Court in Florida, says several articles and one book published in the leadup to the 2024 election are 鈥減art of a decades-long pattern by the New York Times of intentional and malicious defamation against President Trump.鈥
Times spokesman Charles Stadtlander said Tuesday the lawsuit 鈥渓acks any legitimate legal claims and instead is an attempt to stifle and discourage independent reporting. The New York Times will not be deterred by intimidation tactics.鈥 Penguin Random House, which published the book, called the lawsuit 鈥渕eritless.鈥
Trump has gone after other media outlets, including against the The Wall Street Journal and media mogul Rupert Murdoch in July after the newspaper published a story reporting on his ties to wealthy financier Jeffrey Epstein.
Patel describes a widening probe of Kirk shooting, including Discord chat
Patel was asked by Sen. Josh Hawley, R-Mo., whether the Kirk shooting is being treated as part of a broader trend of violence against religious groups, and Patel responded, 鈥淲e are investigating Charlie鈥檚 assassination fully and completely and running out every lead related to any allegation of broader violence.鈥
Patel also said that the FBI is investigating 鈥渁nyone and everyone鈥 who was involved in an online gaming chatroom on Discord with the alleged shooter. That chatroom involved 鈥渁 lot more鈥 than 20 people, Patel said.
Patel says he鈥檇 work with Congress to address gun violence
The FBI director told Sen. Amy Klobuchar that he is 鈥渨illing to engage and explore new ways鈥 to address gun violence in the United States.
鈥淲hatever creativity we can use to eliminate even just one shooting, one horrific death, I am in favor of engaging with Congress fully to do,鈥 Patel told the Democrat from Minnesota.
Patel was later pressed by Klobuchar on whether he supports a ban on so-called assault weapons.
The FBI director said there are 鈥渋nstances on this legislation that could prevent future attacks鈥 but said he would not 鈥渨eigh into the creation of legislation.鈥
Patel says the mission against drug traffickers will extend for years
The FBI director says his agency, as well as the U.S. military and intelligence community, will be conducting a yearslong mission that seeks to use counterterrorism tactics against drug-trafficking organizations.
鈥淲e must treat them like foreign terrorist organizations post-9/11. We must treat them like the al-Qaidas of the world,鈥 Patel told the Senate Judiciary Committee.
Patel argued that law enforcement resources alone aren鈥檛 enough to dismantle criminal groups that traffic drugs into the U.S. and that the Trump administration is taking an 鈥渋nteragency鈥 approach.
鈥淲hether that鈥檚 in a kill operation, a capture operation, a surrender operation, or a host nation takedown, like we did with the counterterrorism mission sets in Afghanistan and Iraq and Pakistan and elsewhere, we are applying that to the drug traffickers in Mexico and Venezuela and Colombia,鈥 Patel said.
Tim Walz, the 2024 Democratic VP candidate, says he鈥檒l seek to remain Minnesota鈥檚 governor
Minnesota said Tuesday he will seek a third term in the 2026 elections, hoping to beat the odds to become the longest-serving governor in a state where voters have usually said two terms were plenty.
鈥淚鈥檝e always tried to do what鈥檚 right for Minnesota, and I鈥檒l never stop fighting to protect us from the chaos, corruption, and cruelty coming out of Washington,鈥 Walz said in a campaign video.
Walz has been frequently mentioned as a potential 2028 presidential candidate. He while touring and primary states after he and Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris were defeated. But in July he would not run for president if he sought reelection.
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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 the Democrat of unfairly attacking FBI leadership.
Earlier in the hearing, Patel called it 鈥渁bsolutely disgraceful鈥 to cite what the FBI director described as a 鈥渙ne-sided story鈥 about the firings.
鈥淵our attack on the current leadership of the men and women of the FBI is equally disgraceful,鈥 the FBI director told Durbin.
Patel is facing a lawsuit from three high-ranking FBI officials who have accused him of illegally firing them in a 鈥渃ampaign of retribution.鈥
Trump says US strikes have now destroyed three boats suspected of carrying drugs from Venezuela
鈥淲e knocked off, actually, three boats not two,鈥 Trump told reporters when asked about Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro鈥檚 angry response to U.S. military operations that the White House says is targeting Venezuelan drug smugglers.
Trump had confirmed earlier that the U.S. military on Monday had targeted a second boat allegedly carrying drugs from Venezuela, killing three aboard the vessel. He also hinted that the military targeting of cartels could be further expanded.
The White House did not immediately respond to questions about when and where the third strike occurred.
Trump also sent a new warning to the Maduro government on Tuesday:
鈥淪top sending Tren de Aragua to the United States,鈥 Trump said. 鈥淪top sending drugs into the United States.鈥
Patel declines to provide legal justification for strikes on Venezuelan boats
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who is a close ally of Trump, asked the FBI director 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.
While Republicans in Congress haven鈥檛 objected to Trump using the U.S. military to strike the boats, some are beginning to ask questions on how the operations are conducted and their legal justification.
Still, Graham expressed support for an aggressive approach to nations where drugs are manufactured.
鈥淲e will hunt down every single one of those narco-traffickers,鈥 Patel told Graham.
Patel says investigation into pipe bombs on Jan. 6, 2021, is 鈥榦ngoing鈥
Durbin asked Patel about statements from Dan Bongino before he became deputy director of the FBI that the bombs found at the Democratic National Committee and the Republican National Committee on Jan. 6, 2021, were an 鈥渋nside job.鈥
The FBI director declined to comment on Bongino鈥檚 comments, but said he found Durbin鈥檚 criticism of Bongino 鈥渄isgusting.鈥
鈥淪o you have no evidence?鈥 asked Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee.
鈥淚 got a lot of evidence, and I鈥檒l give it to you when I can,鈥 Patel said.
The person who placed the bombs just before the attack on the U.S. Capitol that day has never been identified.
Patel spars with Durbin over Epstein files
During one combative exchange, Patel was pressed by the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee over an unsigned memo released by the Justice Department in July that said there was no evidence of a Jeffrey Epstein 鈥渃lient list.鈥
Patel responded with a dig at former President Joe Biden, telling Durbin: 鈥淲ould you have preferred I used autopen?鈥
Republicans have accused the Democratic president of signing pardons in this final days in the White House with an autopen instead of by his own hand.
Patel avoids answering questions on polygraph tests in tense exchange
The Senate hearing is quickly becoming tense, with the FBI director repeatedly avoiding answering questions from Sen. Durbin on how the bureau has administered polygraph tests to staff.
Patel told Durbin, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, that he wouldn鈥檛 discuss the specifics of how polygraph tests are administered or what questions come up.
Durbin responded, 鈥淵ou have to have a decent memory when you come before a committee.鈥
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.
Epstein comes up early
Patel brought up the Epstein files in his opening statement, seeking to address a topic that鈥檚 brought criticism from some quarters of Trump鈥檚 conservative base who want to see more information released about the probe.
The FBI director faulted the original case against Jeffrey Epstein that ended in a plea deal years ago. He says it involved a 鈥渧ery limited search warrant鈥 and asserted that the Trump administration has done more to release all 鈥渃redible information鈥 they could under the law.
Patel also said Epstein had not been a source for the FBI.
He didn鈥檛 acknowledge criticism that the FBI and Justice Department have faced in recent months over the abrupt announcement in July that they would not be releasing additional documents from their trove of evidence.
Trump welcomes Georgia Supreme Court decision in elections case against him
The state鈥檚 high court on Tuesday declined to hear Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis鈥 appeal of her removal from the case.
Trump reacted to the news by saying it was a 鈥済reat decision鈥 and a 鈥渞igged case to start off with.鈥
He also called for Willis to be jailed for attempting to prosecute him and several other individuals.
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Patel projects defiance
Patel has concluded his opening statement before the Senate Judiciary Committee with a bit of a challenge for his critics: 鈥淚鈥檓 not going anywhere.鈥
The FBI director pointed to his experience as a congressional staffer and Trump administration official, saying, 鈥淚f you want to criticize my 16 years of service, please bring it on.鈥
Senate Republicans have continued to express confidence in Patel despite criticism from some conservative commentators of how he鈥檚 led the FBI鈥檚 response to the killing of Charlie Kirk.
Democrats, meanwhile, will intensely question Patel over what they say is a highly politicized approach to the FBI.
Durbin calls for lower 鈥榯emperature鈥 after Kirk鈥檚 death
The Illinois Democrat says both political parties 鈥渉ave a responsibility to bring down the temperature鈥 and encourage unity following Kirk鈥檚 killing.
In his opening remarks earlier in the hearing, Durbin said Democrats are not responsible for Kirk鈥檚 death, just as Republicans are not responsible for the killing of a Democratic state lawmaker in Minnesota earlier this year.
The country is going through a period of division and political violence, he said, but 鈥淩epublicans are not Nazis, Democrats are not evil.鈥
Patel touts shift of FBI to target violent crime
Patel鈥檚 opening remarks highlighted his efforts to transform the bureau to focus on combating violent crime.
Patel said the FBI has arrested more than 23,000 violent criminals this year 鈥 an increase compared with last year. He also touted the FBI鈥檚 efforts to target drug trafficking and violent drug cartels.
Critics have raised concerns that the focus on immigration enforcement and violent crime could divert attention from the FBI鈥檚 ability to focus on matters like counterterrorism.
Patel gives a timeline of FBI鈥檚 response to Kirk shooting
He has faced some criticism from conservative corners about how he has led the FBI in the wake of the shooting, but Patel told the Senate panel that his agency 鈥 鈥渁t my direction鈥 鈥 successfully brought the suspect in Charlie Kirk鈥檚 killing into custody.
He also has touted the number of arrests made by the FBI, saying it represents an increase from the Biden administration.
鈥淲e are leading the mission to crush violent crime and defend the homeland,鈥 Patel said.
Trump calls King Charles III, Queen Camilla friends as he prepares to depart for U.K.
The president said, 鈥渢hey鈥檝e been friends of mine for a long time,鈥 called the king an 鈥渆legant gentleman鈥 and said, 鈥淚 think he represents the country so well.鈥
The president, speaking as he was leaving the White House, said that U.K. officials want to continue trade negotiations during his coming visit.
鈥淭hey鈥檇 like to see if they can get a little bit better deal, so we鈥檒l talk to them鈥 he said.
Durbin says Patel came to FBI with a 鈥榩olitical mission鈥
The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Dick Durbin, opened his remarks by criticizing Patel for the removal of career FBI officials and the diversion of agents to help with immigration enforcement.
Durbin called Patel 鈥渁rguably the most partisan FBI director ever,鈥 saying he has 鈥渁lready inflicted untold damage on the FBI.鈥 Durbin accused Patel of putting the country鈥檚 鈥渘ational security and public safety at risk.鈥
Grassley lists GOP criticism of past FBI probes as Kash Patel hearing kicks off
Republican Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley opened the hearing expressing sympathy for the fatal shooting last week of Charlie Kirk, which is under FBI investigation.
Then he ran through a list of GOP criticisms of FBI investigations related to politics, ranging from the prosecution of White House adviser Peter Navarro for his response to a congressional subpoena, to the probe into Hillary Clinton鈥檚 use of a private email server. He also pledged to release new whistleblower records.
Grassley decried Kirk鈥檚 鈥減olitical assassination,鈥 calling Kirk a 鈥渕an of God, faith, family and country.鈥
Suspect in Charlie Kirk shooting likely to face charges Tuesday
Prosecutors are preparing to file a capital murder charge Tuesday against the Utah man who authorities say held a 鈥渓eftist ideology鈥 and may have been 鈥渞adicalized鈥 online before he was arrested in .
Charges against 22-year-old are expected to come ahead of Tuesday鈥檚 first court hearing since he was accused last week of shooting Kirk, a conservative activist credited with and helping Donald Trump win back the White House in 2024.
Wall Street mostly higher ahead of retail sales data and Fed interest rate decision
U.S. indices were mostly higher early Tuesday after Wall Street set new records and investor expectation grew that the Federal Reserve will announce its first interest rate cut of 2025 on Wednesday.
S&P 500 futures rose 0.2% before the bell Tuesday while Big Tech stocks pulled Nasdaq futures 0.3% higher. Futures for the Dow Jones industrials were unchanged.
Oracle shares jumped 5% on speculation it would play a major part in the U.S.-China deal to keep TikTok operating in the U.S. after the Trump administration announced the framework of a trade deal on Monday.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said after between the world鈥檚 two largest economies that Trump and Chinese Premier Xi Jinping would speak Friday to .
Georgia Supreme Court declines to hear Fani Willis鈥 appeal in Trump election case
Citing an 鈥渁ppearance of impropriety鈥 created by a romantic relationship Fulton County District Attorney had with , the Georgia Court of Appeals had ruled that she and her office not continue to prosecute the case. case against Donald Trump and others.
Steve Sadow, Trump鈥檚 attorney in the Georgia case, said in a statement that Willis 鈥渄eserved nothing less than disqualification.鈥 A spokesperson for Willis did not immediately respond to a text message seeking comment.
The decision means it will be up to the to find another prosecutor, who could continue on the track that Willis has taken, decide to pursue only some charges or dismiss the case altogether.
