Kash Patel hearing: FBI director nominee pressed on Jan. 6, conspiracy comments
President Trump's pick to lead the FBI faced his Senate confirmation hearing.
Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's pick for FBI director, faced members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in his confirmation hearing Thursday.
Patel, a staunch Trump ally, was the acting deputy director of national intelligence during the last year of Trump's first presidency. He has said it's his mission to "annihilate" the so-called "Deep State" of "unelected tyrants" inside government.
Among his supporters, Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has called Patel's career "a study in fighting for unpopular but righteous causes, exposing corruption, and putting America First."
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Grassley defends Patel as hearing begins
Kash Patel's confirmation hearing has begun, with Senate Judiciary Committee chairman Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, offered a preemptive defense of Patel, saying the FBI director nominee has been unfairly attacked by critics and inaccurately accused of having an "enemies list."
Democrats will have a chance to offer a statement too, before Patel provides his opening statement.
Confirmation hearing set for 9:30 a.m. ET
The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to meet at 9:30 a.m. ET for Kash Patel's confirmation hearing.
Patel will face Senate Judiciary members from both sides of the aisle in what is expected to be a contentious hearing at times.
He hopes to convince senators that he can rebuild faith in the FBI and keep politics out of its investigations, but Democrats insist his previous public comments suggest otherwise.