Sen. Hirono: “Reflecting on this hearing, it is sad that we are considering Mr. Patel’s nomination despite his gross inadequacy to do the job of FBI Director fairly and objectively.”
~ Video of Sen. Hirono’s question lines can be found here ~
WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, pressed Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during his confirmation hearing on his history of spreading misinformation relating to the 2020 presidential election, COVID-19 vaccine “detox” supplements, the January 6, 2021 insurrection, and a list of people he believes comprise the “Executive Branch Deep State.” During the hearing, Senator Hirono opposed Mr. Patel’s nomination, citing his gross inadequacy to fulfill the role of FBI Director fairly and objectively.
In the hearing, Senator Hirono pressed Mr. Patel about a list of 60 people that he claims to make up part of the “Executive Branch Deep State.” When asked whether he would investigate some of the people on his list if he were confirmed as FBI Director, Mr. Patel refused to explicitly state that he would not.
Senator Hirono then asked Mr. Patel about a COVID-19 vaccine “detox” supplement that he has promoted and whether he profited from those promotions. Again, Mr. Patel refused to answer the question.
“Over 1 million Americans died as a result of COVID-19,” said Senator Hirono. “The COVID-19 vaccine saved lives, yet, less than a year ago, you promoted unregulated, unproven, unscientific supplements to ‘reverse’ the effects of the vaccine on Truth Social.”
Senator Hirono also asked Mr. Patel if he believed that Donald Trump lost the 2020 presidential election. Mr. Patel refused to explicitly state that Donald Trump lost.
“Mr. Patel, the FBI is the primary agency responsible for investigating election-related crimes, including fraud and the denial of voting rights,” said Senator Hirono. “So, being able to separate fact from conspiracy theories around elections is an important thing for the FBI Director.”
“Once again, the people who are 100% loyal to President Trump cannot answer that question,” continued Senator Hirono. “It is alarming that you want to be an FBI Director and can’t answer a simple question—factual question.”
During her question line, Senator Hirono also asked Mr. Patel whether he stands by a previous statement he made that he would “come after” the free media; whether he would resign from his position on the board of directors for the Trump Media Technology Group if confirmed as FBI Director; and for his commitment to addressing violent crime in Indian country.
The full transcript of Senator Hirono’s exchanges with Mr. Patel is available below. Video of Senator Hirono’s question lines can be found here.
Round 1
Sen. Hirono: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Patel, as part of my responsibility as a member of this committee, I ask the following two initial questions of all nominees before any of my committees. Since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of a sexual nature?
Mr. Patel: No, senator, I have not.
Sen. Hirono: Have you ever faced discipline or entered into a settlement relating to this kind of conduct?
Mr. Patel: No, senator, I have not.
Sen. Hirono: Mr. Patel, you have been a champion of the January 6 Prison Choir. You have stated that the choir’s members were, “incarcerated as a result of their involvement in the January 6, 2021 protest for election integrity.” One of the choir members is Julian Khater, who pled guilty—he pled guilty—to assaulting officers with a deadly weapon. On January 6, he attacked Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick with pepper spray and the next day, Officer Sicknick suffered from two strokes and died. Mr. Patel, was Mr. Khater protesting for election integrity? Yes, or no?
Mr. Patel: I don’t know who that is.
Sen. Hirono: I’m not asking you who that is. I’m asking you whether, having heard the description of what he pled to, whether he was protesting for election integrity, yes or no?
Mr. Patel: I don’t know who that is and that statement—
Sen. Hirono: That is not responsive to my question. You are not willing to say that, but you were willing to describe this choir as consisting of people who were protesting for election integrity, and yet you testified you don’t know them.
We have heard already, your book includes a list of 60 people who you think make up part of the “Executive Branch Deep State.” Mr. Patel, if confirmed, do you plan to investigate President Trump’s former FBI Director Christopher Wray, yes or no?
Mr. Patel: I have no plans in going backwards, I have plans on safeguarding this—
Sen. Hirono: How about James Comey, do you plan to investigate him?
Mr. Patel: Senator, every investigation will be subject to the same legal standard—
Sen. Hirono: Do you plan to investigate James Comey who is on your list?
Mr. Patel: I have no intentions of going backwards. Every—
Sen. Hirono: How about Bill Barr?
Mr. Patel: —intention of using the Constitution—
Sen. Hirono: How about Bill Barr? Do you plan to investigate him, who is on your Executive Branch deep state and you say you’re going to “ferret out” the deep state?
Mr. Patel: No one—
Sen. Hirono: Yes or no?
Mr. Patel: —that did not break the law will be investigated.
Sen. Hirono: No answers to any of those, okay.
Over 1 million Americans died as a result of COVID-19. The COVID-19 vaccine saved lives, yet, less than a year ago, you promoted unregulated, unproven, unscientific supplements to “reverse” the effects of the vaccine on Truth Social. You told your followers that these supplements were—would “detox” them of the COVID-19 vaccine. Mr. Patel, did you make money by promoting these supplements?
Mr. Patel: Senator, do you know of any individuals who died as a result of complications from the vaccines?
Sen. Hirono: Yeah again, you—
Mr. Patel: Because, I do.
Sen. Hirono: —are you unable to answer my question, which is a straightforward—did you make money by promoting these supplements?
Mr. Patel: All of my financial disclosures have been made to this committee.
Sen. Hirono: I would like to hear your answer, yes or no, did you make money?
Mr. Patel: I don’t have those financial disclosures—
Sen. Hirono: This is my third and last time I’m going to ask you that question.
Mr. Patel: —in front of me. You have that information.
Sen. Hirono: So, you refuse to answer the question.
Mr. Patel: I answered in 1,300 pages.
Sen. Hirono: You are—you are—you [scoffs]. No answer, and yet you spread dangerous misinformation. Mr. Patel, the FBI is the primary agency responsible for investigating election-related crimes, including fraud and the denial of voting rights. So, being able to separate fact from conspiracy theories around elections is an important thing for the FBI Director. I have a question to see if you can do that. Mr. Patel, did Donald Trump lost the 2020 Presidential Election, yes or no?
Mr. Patel: President Biden’s election was certified—he was sworn in and he served as the President of the United States.
Sen. Hirono: Once again, the people who are 100% loyal to President Trump cannot answer that question. It is alarming that you want to be an FBI Director and can’t answer a simple question—factual question.
During a 2023 interview with Steve Bannon, you said, “We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government, but in the media. Yes, we’re going to come after the people in the media who lied about the American citizens who helped Joe Biden rig presidential elections.” There is your quote. Do you still plan to come after the free press?
Mr. Patel: Not unless private citizens have been defamed, that’s their right.
Sen. Hirono: You said that you would be going after the media. That’s—so I want to know whether you plan to do that—go after the free media. Who are you—
Mr. Patel: I can’t go after the media for other people. That’s a decision they have.
Sen. Hirono: So, I would say that that was a statement that you made that is pretty chilling to the free media. So, I didn’t hear a no, that you would not go after them.
You currently serve on the board of directors for the Trump Media Technology Group, which owns the social media platform, Truth Social. If confirmed as FBI Director, will you resign from this position and end all ties with the Trump Media and Technology Group?
Mr. Patel: Yes, senator, as I have stated to you in writing.
Sen. Hirono: Over the last two years, the FBI has dedicated resources to Operation Not Forgotten, which works to address violent crime in Indian country. If confirmed as FBI Director, would you continue the important work of Operation Not Forgotten?
Mr. Patel: I’ve made that commitment to many of your colleagues who have tribal issues and tribal crimes plaguing their communities and I’ll make that commitment to you as well, senator.
Sen. Hirono: My time is almost up, but I would like to note that on the many questions asked about the choir, the J6 Choir—it included at least five men who pled guilty to assaulting police officers. And these other people, whose record, this nominee promotes. Thank you.
Round 2
Sen. Hirono: Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I want to touch on something that’s been on my mind lately and I will tie it back to this hearing.
We have seen a wholesale attack and assault in the past two weeks by President Trump on the value of diversity. Through his executive orders, he is seeking to dismantle over 60 years of work to promote equal opportunity in the federal government. His pronouncements have gotten so bad, that apparently, the Defense Intelligence Agency issued a memo two days ago, that it would no longer commemorate Martin Luther King Day, Women’s History Month, Holocaust Day of Remembrance, or Asian American Pacific Islander Heritage Month, and so on.
Why is there such a fear of people who are different? In Hawaii, we celebrate diversity—[we] know that it gives us strength. It is part of what makes Hawaii and America great.
Mr. Patel, earlier you shared some deplorable, racist rhetoric that had been used against you. As someone who has also been the recipient of this sort of hateful language, I am deeply sympathetic. I also note, Mr. Patel, that in the past, you have recognized the value of diversity. Back when you were in law school, you signed on to an amicus brief in the Grutter case, supporting consideration of race in law school admissions. I hope that joining the Trump Administration will not cause you to change your views on the value of diversity.
Reflecting on this hearing, it is sad that we are considering Mr. Patel’s nomination despite his gross inadequacy to do the job of FBI Director fairly and objectively. Yet, there is no question that much pressure has been brought to bear on my Republican colleagues to support this nomination. For example, a man named Mike Davis has been threatening my Republican colleagues. He said that this vote was a “red line,” that if Senate Republicans don’t vote to confirm Mr. Patel, his organization, a group called the Article Three Project, would make their lives a living hell.
I certainly hope that all of us will base our vote on your nomination on the best interest—who can work in the best interest of our country and not based on this sort of pressure. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
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