Patel dodges, delay as Democrats press him in controversial statements

Kash Patel, the selection of President Trump to lead the FBI, would not recognize or intend to distance himself from a host from his past public statements, as Democrats pressed him during his confirmation audience on Thursday.

Democratic legislators cited numerous controversial statements that Patel has made on podcasts and online, but Patel shied away from being associated with his past observations or the Democrats accused of removing his words out of context.

In response to questions from Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL.), Patel seemed to be unaware that he did not know the activities of a prison choir consisting of January 6 accused who launched the song “Justice for All” to raise money- A group that has promoted in the past.

“I am not aware of this, sir, it had nothing to do with recording,” he said.

When questioning the Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) Said Patel had it presumed of his participation.

“In fact, as you said, to Steve Bannon on his program:” Then we entered a studio and recorded it, dominate it, digitized it and put it as a song, now spear exclusively in the War Room . This was the song of the J6 prison heart, “said Blumenthal.

“We, we, we,” added Senator Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) Later, pointing to Patel’s participation.

Patel later said he used the “proverbial us” when Schiff asked if Patel lied to Steve Bannon.

“I did not record it myself,” Patel said.

Patel also promoted the group’s song and acknowledged that he knew the group’s background.

“The J6 prisons choir is made up of people who have been imprisoned as a result of their participation in the protest of January 6, 2021 for electoral integrity. They have sung the anthem every night since they were imprisoned, allowing to help, ”he wrote Social networks in a 2023 post.

Patel would also not support his previous statements that they claimed to have witnessed President Trump, as his first term ended, declassifying documents, which could have been key to Trump’s defense if the case of classified documents in the Ex -Jack Smith’s lawyer proceeded to the classified documents.

Patel received immunity to discuss his role in the Mar-Aago case after begging the fifth to the prosecutors.

“I would like my great testimony to the jury released, but, as you know, the witness of the Grand Jury has been sealed by the Department of Justice,” Patel said.

But Senator Cory Booker (DN.J.) said that the testimonies are free to discuss his testimony to the Grand Jury.

“It seems to me worrying that you do not know the law here,” he said. “You witnessed in the case of classified documents. You were not tied by the secretary. You can tell us all that happened in the room and everything you testified. “”

Patel did not provide more information as Booker repeatedly noted that his Thursday’s testimony was under oath.

Senator Sheldon Whitehouse (Dr.i.) noted Patel’s past observations on the persecution of journalists.

“We will come after the people of the media who lied to the North -Americans, who helped Joe Biden Rig Rig Rig Presidential elections, we will come after you, whether for criminality or oats, we will discover, but we do, “Don’t notify you of everything,” Patel said to Bannon’s program.

“The senator, this is a partial date,” Patel said.

Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) He said he would enter the hearing register in various past statements, as Patel said that he could not remember things “I have no in front” or fired them as partial budgets extracted of context.

The exchange was especially warmed up after Kluobuchar asked if Patel had threatened to close the FBI headquarters and to convert it into a “deep state” museum.

Was a Observation that Patel made in a podcastWhich he said would do on the 1st of his direction to the FBI.

Kluobuchar pressed more: “I deserve a response to this question. To be FBI head, and said that his headquarters should be closed.”

Kluobuchar also referred to other podcast appearances that the hill has not reviewed independently.

“You said that Donald Trump has all the right to tell the world that in 2020, 2016 and all other elections were equipped by our government,” said Klobuchar, emphasizing that it was from a 2023 interview in ” Time program “.

“I don’t get enough of the facts in front of me,” Patel responded.

Klobuchar then referred to Patel’s comments on the officials of the Department of Justice.

“I looked at it. I have read these things. … have you said that? “When Trump wins by 2024 and in power in 2025, we can pursue them”, referring to the officials of the Department of Justice – “for a real violation of the Rico Statute, to organize the US government criminal. The law in the presidential election “” Klobuchar read, adding that Patel made observations on the “X22 Report”.

“Senator, you are reading a partial statement, so I can’t answer fully,” Patel said.

Republicans of the Senate Judicial Committee were disturbed that Kluobuchar spent during his time and President Chuck Grassley (R-IAWA) said he will have a second round of questions.

“OK, I’ll tell them again,” he said.

Patel disassociated the Democrats for the “grotesque embezzles” of his observations.

“If the best attacks on me will be false accusations and bad grotesque characterizations, the only thing this body does is defeat the credibility of the FBI men and women,” he said.

“And any accusation against me, which would somehow put political bias before the Constitution is grotesque unfair.”

Senator Ted Cruz (R-Texas) defended Patel.

“I have to say that it is ridiculous, but unfortunately predictable, that the Democrats strive to dirty -Bond, to paint a false caricature, based on innuendo and smoke,” he said.

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