FBI Director Kash Patel went toe-to-toe with Sen. Peter Welch (D-VT) during a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, with Patel accusing Welch of creating a “charade of lies” before going on to question him about how his wealth increased by a whopping 4,000%. Much of the conversation centered around whether the FBI would have a presence at polling places on Election Day in November.
Patel revealed that the FBI will have an election crime community coordinator located within each of its field offices, going on to add, “so you bet we’re going to have them there and manning the polls for election interference matters.” He then added, “This FBI is not going to shy away from that effort,” before slamming Welch for criticizing bureau agents and their work.
“And if you want to continue lying about the men and women of the FBI, so you can have your four-second campaign ad, go ahead. But the historic results: the 20% reduction in murder rate, the 1100 terrorist attacks stopped, the 11,000 children found. The 54,000 violent offenders are what this FBI is driving towards. The top 10 most captured. Six of the most wanted fraudsters captured,” Patel continued.
He then skewered Welch over his question concerning how the FBI was spending its money, saying, “You asked where we’re spending our resources. We are spending the resources in delivering the most prolific reduction in crime in U.S. history, crushing violent crime and defending the homeland. And that’s where we’re going to continue.”
Welch then took an opportunity to go after Patel and the FBI by raising questions concerning the bureau interfering with the election. “This is existential. You told Mr. [Richard] Blumenthal you weren’t sending FBI agents to election sites and, according to Mr. James, you said ‘the FBI is on the way.’ This is about whether the United States citizens, Republicans, Democrats, independents are the deciders of this election or there’s election interference led by the FBI in the Trump administration,” the Democrat railed.
“Do you pledge that you will not in any way interfere in the will of the American people when they go to the polls in November?” Welch asked the director. “I pledge unequivocally that I will not participate in your charade of lies,” Patel fired back. Welch then accused Patel of pandering to President Donald Trump, slamming the president over his claims that the 2020 election was stolen through fraud.
“Then why are you being such a panderer to President Trump, who’s still claiming that he won the 2020 election, and who has said the only way Democrats can win in 2026 is if they cheat? Do you believe that?” Patel started to say, “What I believe in is the rule of law. What I will always believe –” but was interrupted by Welch. And that’s when things really got heated.
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“I want to know how your wealth increased 4,000% since you became a United States senator, that’s a magic act all Americans should be aware of,” Patel fired off at Welch. One lonesome individual in the room who was observing the hearing broke out in applause at the line. Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) was not amused, telling both men to “knock it off.”
Featured Image: screenshot from embedded video