Kash Patel Faces Tough Questions from Senator Durbin on January 6th Pardons During Confirmation Hearing
Kash Patel, nominee for FBI Director, faced questioning from Senator Durbin about pardons given to January 6 rioters during his confirmation hearing, highlighting broader national safety concerns.
Kash Patel, President Trump's nominee to head the Federal Bureau of Investigation, encountered serious questions during his confirmation hearing regarding the president's decision to pardon January 6 rioters.
Democratic Senator Dick Durbin asked Patel, "So do you think that America is safer because the 1600 people have been given an opportunity to come out of serving their sentences and live in our communities again?" This question referred to the recent commutation of sentences for individuals convicted of assaulting police officers during the January 6 events.
In response, Patel brought up the commutation of Leonard Peltier by President Biden, referencing the 1975 murders of two FBI agents. "Senator, I have not looked at all 1600 individual cases," he stated.
Patel asserted, "I have always advocated for imprisoning those that cause harm to our law enforcement and civilian communities" while expressing his belief that America is not safer because of Biden's decision to commute Peltier's sentence.
Durbin countered by noting the significant time Peltier had already served and made a direct comparison to the rioters who were pardoned. "Leonard Peltier was in prison for 45 years," he explained, emphasizing that Peltier's situation is different from those pardoned by Trump.
Patel highlighted broader concerns about safety in America, stating, "Senator, America will be safe when we don't have 200,000 drug overdoses in two years." His comments met with approval from conservative circles online.
Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley pointed out the current public trust issues facing the FBI, mentioning that only 41% of Americans believe the FBI is performing well. Grassley praised Patel's qualifications, noting his experience in public defense and national security.
Despite his qualifications, Patel's nomination has faced early resistance from some Democrats, who reference his past comments regarding the prosecution of journalists and officials he labels as part of a "deep state."
