The leading Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee accused Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee to head the FBI, of perjury during his confirmation hearing last month.
Illinois Senator Dick Durbin stated he possesses “highly credible information” indicating Patel is responsible for the firings at the bureau, even though he has not yet officially taken the role of FBI director. Patel had previously denied any knowledge of these actions during his testimony before the committee.
In a letter addressed to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, Durbin emphasized that despite Patel’s pending confirmation, “multiple sources” have indicated that he has been personally orchestrating the reduction of personnel at the FBI.
Durbin asserted, “It is unacceptable for a nominee who currently holds no official government position, let alone at the FBI, to personally manage unjustified and potentially unlawful adverse employment actions against senior career FBI leaders and other dedicated, nonpartisan law enforcement officials.”
Durbin informed the Justice Department IG that his sources indicated Patel’s orders were being executed by Senior White House aide Stephen Miller, Acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove, and members of the new FBI Director’s Advisory Team. According to Durbin’s sources, a member of this team has been supplying Patel with insights about internal bureau activities, allowing Patel to “provide guidance to Mr. Miller, who then communicates it to Acting Deputy Attorney General Bove.” He claimed that individuals on the DAT team had conveyed to bureau officials that “prior to January 30, they had been in direct communication with Mr. Patel.”
According to Durbin, the DAT compiled a list that “identified specific officials and was reviewed by multiple FBI leaders.” Those enumerated were understood to be “individuals in the crosshairs.” On January 29, Acting FBI Director Brian Driscoll and Acting Deputy Director Robert Kissane convened a meeting where it was communicated that a number of Executive Assistant Directors (EAD) and other supervisors needed to either resign or be terminated, Durbin noted.
Durbin quoted “[c]ontemporaneous notes” from an earlier meeting with Justice Department and FBI leadership that stated, “KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ.” He reported that Bove informed attendees at the meeting that he had “received multiple calls” from Miller, who was “pressuring him” because “Mr. Patel wanted the FBI to expedite the removal of targeted employees, as the DOJ had already done with prosecutors.”
The FBI declined to provide any comments on the matter.
Patel has been nominated to succeed Christopher Wray, who was a previous appointee by Trump during his first term. However, Trump grew dissatisfied with Wray amid the FBI’s investigation into the attempts to overturn the 2020 presidential election. Wray resigned on January 20.
Durbin stated that if the accusations regarding Patel’s involvement in the FBI firings prove accurate, “Mr. Patel may have committed perjury before the Senate Judiciary Committee.”
During his confirmation hearing on January 30, Patel claimed he was “not aware” of any ongoing plans to discipline or terminate FBI agents and personnel involved in the multiple investigations surrounding Mr. Trump, stating, “I don’t know what’s happening there at the moment.”
Patel’s confirmation process has been marked by controversy and delays.
In January, an FBI insider came forward questioning Patel’s judgment during a hostage rescue mission while working with the FBI’s Hostage Recovery Fusion Cell, the entity overseeing the government’s efforts to rescue hostages abroad.
Democrats also scrutinized Patel during his confirmation hearing regarding his support for the “J6 Prison Choir,” a compilation of “deep state” executive branch officials featured in his book, “Government Gangsters,” and his reluctance to acknowledge Mr. Trump’s loss in the 2020 presidential election.
On Tuesday, 30 lawmakers sent a letter to Senate Judiciary Chairman Sen. Chuck Grassley and Durbin urging the committee to obstruct the advancement of Patel’s nomination due to “inconsistencies” in his testimony and his “history of inflammatory statements.”
Grassley remarked in a post on X, “Another day, another attack against Kash Patel by the Democrats.” He dismissed the recent allegations as “nothing more than hearsay,” and commended Patel’s “character and credibility, which over half a million law enforcement officers have backed.”
Last week, Senate Democrats successfully postponed a committee vote to advance Patel’s nomination for consideration by the full Senate until Thursday.
