Senate Democrats took some of their last shots at FBI director nominee Kash Patel, as the Judiciary Committee prepares to vote on whether he should advance to confirmation. “For God’s sake, to give the most sweeping investigative agency in the United States and the world over to this man to settle political scores is something we’re going to regret,” said Minority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL). The panel was scheduled Thursday to vote on Pate’s nomination, but Democrats requested that the vote be delayed until next week, reports Courthouse News Service. Committee chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) accused Democrats of “establishing a double standard” by forcing an in-person meeting to delay Patel’s nomination.
Democrats said they wanted to use the opportunity to speak out against what Durbin called the "extraordinary nomination." Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) said that Patel had failed to answer questions about his so-called “enemies list” or past statements about investigating members of the media. "The FBI director’s loyalty must be to the American people, to the Constitution and to the rule of law — but Mr. Patel has made it clear that his loyalty is to the president,” Klobuchar said. Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) agreed, saying that the nominee had “no business” leading the FBI. The lawmakers pointed to the White House’s move to fire senior FBI officials and to have the FBI compile a list of agents and staffers who worked on cases related to the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Those actions, Democrats argued, stood in sharp contrast with Patel’s commitment to protect FBI employees from political retribution. Grassley rebuffed calls from Democrats to hold another hearing on Patel amid the White House’s meddling at the FBI.
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