REFILE: Trump's FBI pick pressed on whether he believes Biden won the 2020 election

Record ID: 1954252

  • Title: REFILE: Trump's FBI pick pressed on whether he believes Biden won the 2020 election
  • Date: 30th January 2025
  • Summary: (SOUNDBITE) (English) PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S NOMINEE FOR THE ROLE OF FBI DIRECTOR, KASH PATEL, SAYING: "I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement. And I have, including in that group is specifically addressed any violence against law enforcement on January 6. And I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement. SENATOR: "Do you think that America is safer because the 1,600 people have been given an opportunity to come out of serving their sentences and live in our communities again?" PATEL: "Senator, I have not looked at all 1,600 individual cases. I have always advocated for imprisoning those that cause harm to our law enforcement and civilian communities." WIDE OF HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S NOMINEE FOR THE ROLE OF FBI DIRECTOR, KASH PATEL, SAYING: SENATOR AMY KLOBUCHAR (OFF CAMERA) SAYING: "Did you post on your personal social media account in May of 2024 -- "January 6 - never an insurrection. Cowards in uniforms exposed. They broke the chain of command"? PATEL: "I believe you're referencing a post that was shown in part earlier. I don't have it in front of me." KLOBUCHAR (OFF CAMERA): "You posted it and it was on your account. And we will again put that out there once more." WIDE OF HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) RESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S NOMINEE FOR THE ROLE OF FBI DIRECTOR, KASH PATEL, SAYING: "Any accusations leveled against me that I would somehow put political bias before the Constitution are grotesquely unfair. And I will have you reminded that I have been endorsed by over 300,000 law enforcement officers to become the next director of the FBI. Let's ask them." (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC SENATOR MAZIE HIRONO (SEATED IN FRONT OF POSTER FEATURING PATEL'S TWEET IN SUPPORT OF JANUARY 6th PROTESTERS, SAYING: "Mr Patel, was Mr, (Julian) Khater protesting for election integrity? Yes or no? [ KHATER PLEASED GUILTY TO TWO COUNTS OF ASSAULTING, RESISTING OR IMPEDING POLICE OFFICERS INCLUDING BRIAN SICKNICK WITH A DANGEROUS WEAPON - SICKNICK SUFFERED SEVERAL STROKES AFTER THE ATTACK AND DIED THE NEXT DAY] PATEL (OFF CAMERA): "I don't know who that is." 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? PATEL: "I don't know who that is." HIRONO: "That is not responsive to my question. You're not willing to say that, but you were willing to describe this choir as consisting of people who are protesting for election integrity. And yet you testify you don't know them." POSTER WITH NAMES OF INDIVIDUALS LISTED AS "MEMBERS OF EXECUTIVE BRANCH DEEP STATES" IN PATEL'S BOOK "GOVERNMENT GANGSTERS: THE DEEP STATE, THE TRUTH AND THE BATTLE FOR OUR DEMOCRACY" (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC SENATOR PETER WELCH, SAYING: "Donald Trump has never acknowledged that he lost in 2020, and he invited people to come to the Capitol on January 6th to stop the steal. And after that happened, police officers died, people were injured." BACK VIEW OF HEARING (SOUNDBITE) (English) DEMOCRATIC SENATOR PETER WELCH, SAYING: "You understand what I'm asking you? Can you say the words - Joe Biden won the 2020 election?" PATEL: "Joe Biden is -- was the president of the United States." WELCH: "There's a difference. I can say the words 'Donald Trump won.' I don't like to say it, but I must say it. And you cannot say that Joe Biden won the election.' PATEL: "What I can say is the same for both of them, Senator. Both of their elections were certified and they are both -- one was and one now is president." WELCH: "The reason I have some concerns about that --and with my colleagues on the Republican side is that whoever is the FBI director, and I suspect it will be Mr. Patel, has a boss and he has strong points of view. He's said the president, Vice President Harris, was a criminal and should be prosecuted. Is that a prosecution you would initiate?" PATEL: "There is no prosecution or that the FBI will ever initiate because the FBI will only do investigations and those will only be opened when there is a factual and constitutional basis to do so." WELCH: "Your boss, has said that a General Milley, who served us with great distinction, I happen to have great admiration for, should be tried for treason. Do you agree with that?" PATEL: "Senator, everybody is entitled to their opinion. The only thing that matters at the FBI is whether the law is followed." WELCH: "I know everybody's entitled to their opinion. I'm asking you your opinion. Should General Milley be tried for treason?" PATEL: "Vice President Harris, Kamala Harris or General Milley or anyone otherwise will not be subjected to an FBI investigation that doesn't mean rigorous standards of the Constitution." WIDE OF HEARING
  • Embargoed: 13th February 2025 19:21
  • Keywords: Biden Confirmation FBI January 6 Kash Patel Senate Trump
  • Location: WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITED STATES
  • City: WASHINGTON, D.C. UNITED STATES
  • Country: US
  • Topics: North America,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA003750830012025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's nominee for FBI director, vowed on Thursday (January 30) to protect FBI employees against politically motivated actions even as the Trump administration has begun to fire and sideline Justice Department officials who were involved in investigations into the president.
    Patel said any FBI investigations during his tenure would be based on a factual and legal basis.
    Democrats pressed Patel during his confirmation hearing about his past comments downplaying the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol and threatening investigations of government officials and the news media. Patel did not directly address past remarks, but told the Senate Judiciary Committee "any accusations leveled against me that I would somehow put political bias before the Constitution are grotesquely unfair."
    Democrats also repeatedly asked Patel whether he agreed that Joe Biden won the 2020 presidential election.
    "Can you say the words - Joe Biden won the 2020 election?" Sen. Peter Welch asked.
    "Joe Biden is -- was the president of the United States," Patel said.
    "There's a difference. I can say the words 'Donald Trump won.' I don't like to say it, but I must say it. And you cannot say that Joe Biden won the election," WelCh said.
    Patel has insisted that the FBI used undercover operatives to entrap rioters during the attack on the Capitol - a claim debunked by a recent Justice Department inspector general report.
    Patel appeared to break with Trump on his sweeping pardons for all of the nearly 1,600 people charged in the Capitol attack, including hundreds who were convicted of assaulting police.
    "I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement," Patel said. "I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual that committed violence against law enforcement."
    Democrats on their own, will not be able to block Patel from being confirmed. Trump has so far succeeded in securing confirmation for one highly controversial nominee, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, in a 51-50 vote after Vice President JD Vance broke a tie caused by three Republican no votes.
    (Production: Deborah Gembara)
  • Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2025. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: None
Register