FBI Director Kash Patel testified before the House Committee on Appropriations on Wednesday. He was there to discuss the 2026 White House budget which allocates $10.1 billion to the FBI for salaries and expenses.
His mere presence unsettled the Democrats on the committee, who made their hostility clear from the outset. But it was his exchange with the odious Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA) that stood out. Her performance was marked by a disingenuous retelling of past events and sharp personal attacks on Patel.
Dean began, “I was an impeachment manager for President Trump’s second impeachment. It was a sad, solemn duty. And so I wanted to ask you about that. Mr. Patel, as you and the president continue to weaponize and investigate his perceived enemies as you follow this blueprint. When can I, a former impeachment manager, expect the FBI at my door?”
Patel pushed back immediately. “Ma’am. You want to know who was targeted by a weaponized FBI? Me. You want to know how and why. You want to know what I’m doing to fix it. …”
Ignoring Patel, Dean said, “Let me move on.”
He suggested that the congresswoman read his book about those FBI insiders who “violated their constitutional obligations and their duties to the American people. … And you should give that book to every one of your constituents so they can read about it.”
She replied that she “won’t be doing that.”
“That’s their loss,” Patel said.
Dean continued, “During your Senate confirmation hearings, you repeatedly denied having any involvement as a private citizen in the firing of FBI officials who engaged in the prosecution against January 6 insurrectionists. Violent rioters who beat and killed Capitol police officers and whom you referred to as political prisoners. Since then, multiple whistleblowers have come forward, and we know that you likely committed perjury at the same hearing, you claimed you were not familiar with Stu Peters, an antisemitic holocaust denier, despite the fact that you appeared on Mr. Peters podcast eight separate times. Eight times. And you claimed not to recall.
“Mr. Patel, my second question is, should we worry more about your memory or your veracity?”
Patel had had enough and delivered the knockout punch: We should worry more about your lack of candor. You’re accusing me of committing perjury. Tell the American people how I broke the law and committed a felony. Have the audacity to actually put the facts forward instead of lying for political banter so you can have a 20-second donation hit.”
Oblivious to his words, Dean interrupted to say, “The answer is both, I believe.”
Patel responded, “The answer is you’re failing, not me.”
On Thursday, Patel testified before the Senate Appropriations Committee. Similar to their House colleagues, the Senate Democrats’ contempt and disdain for Patel were unmistakable.
He had a particularly fiery exchange with Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA), who accused him of weaponizing the FBI. Oh, the irony.
“Well, you asked if I was weaponizing the FBI, and I am not,” Patel said. “I’m giving you the hard, concrete examples of the men and women putting handcuffs on bad people. Doing harm to our children and innocent Americans. …”
Murray interrupted to say, “Well you have placed on leave FBI employees responsible for the investigation of January 6. That sounds political to me.”
“I have not placed anyone on leave who has not violated their ethical obligation or their oath to the constitution,” Patel replied.
“If they were investigating January 6, you believe they were violating an ethic operation?” she asked.
“Nope,” Patel shot back. “I think the common theme here is you putting words in my mouth, and I’m not going to tolerate it. Nor will the men and women of the FBI.”
Touché.
Patel had yet another contentious exchange with Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-OR) over the due process rights of illegal immigrants targeted by the Alien Enemies Act.
Merkley maintained that, according to the Constitution, each individual should receive due process. He sarcastically “encouraged” Patel to read it.
Patel informed Merkley, “As the first public defender who’s ever served the FBI as its director, I am more aware of due process than any predecessor in my seat. You’re delineating between removal proceedings and criminal acts. My job is to investigate criminal acts.”
Merkley continued to press, “You are aware that the 5th amendment refers to taking away liberty and
when people are arrested on the street, detained, their liberty is taken away.”
For political gain, Dean distorted the events of January 6, Murray leveled accusations at Patel for actions actually carried out by former FBI Directors James Comey and Christopher Wray on behalf of the Democratic Party, and Merkley defended the due process rights of gang members who had entered the U.S. illegally.
And I’ve only presented three of Patel’s many clashes with Democratic lawmakers over the past two days. To his credit, he approached every exchange with unrelenting resolve and zero tolerance for nonsense. He didn’t just take punches — he threw them right back, and harder.
He turned the hearing into his own stage and showed other Republicans how it’s done. They would be wise to take note.
Elizabeth writes commentary for Legal Insurrection and The Washington Examiner. She is an academy fellow at The Heritage Foundation. Please follow Elizabeth on LinkedIn or X.
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