ICYMI Video: Blumenthal Presses Patel on Support for Violent January 6 Insurrectionists Described as "Political Prisoners"

[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – Yesterday, U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) questioned Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), at the Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing on his nomination.

Blumenthal pressed Patel on his support for the violent insurrectionists who attacked the U.S. Capitol on January 6, 2021. One of Patel’s social media posts exalting the J6 Prison Choir, a group of individuals who were charged for their involvement in the January 6 attack on the Capitol, sought to “raise awareness and support for the political prisoners still locked in jail.” Blumenthal listed several individual members of the Choir who had pled guilty to assaulting law enforcement – including one who sprayed Officer Brian Sicknick, who died the next day, with pepper spray. Patel refused to acknowledge knowing any of the attackers Blumenthal mentioned, despite their high profile crimes and Patel’s criticism of their imprisonment.

“Well the simple fact is that you knew about the J6 Choir, you knew what they did in assaulting and endangering police officers who sought to defend the Capitol on that day, they were severely injured and some, as a consequence, died. I think the FBI deserves better.”

Under questioning from Blumenthal, Patel also refused to answer whether or not he would fire the FBI agents who had worked on Jack Smith’s investigation into Trump’s mishandling of classified documents.

“You’ve committed that the FBI will not be politicized. So, here's your first test. Will you commit that you will not tolerate the firing of the FBI agents who worked with the Special Counsel's office on these investigations? Because if you can't commit that those FBI agents will be protected from political retribution, we can't accept you as FBI Director,” said Blumenthal.

In the second round of questioning, Blumenthal demanded that Patel be fully forthcoming with the Committee regarding his testimony before a grand jury investigating Trump’s handling of classified records. Patel incorrectly claimed that he could not discuss his testimony with the Committee because of grand jury secrecy and still refused to discuss it even after he was informed of his incorrect position.    

“Let me just say, right to the point, Mr. Patel, what are you hiding? Why won't you tell us? You testified under a grant of immunity after taking the Fifth Amendment, as you’re privileged to do. And the appearance here is you have something to hide. I submit to my colleagues on the Committee, we need to know what the grand jury testimony is. We need access to that second volume. And you have no objection to our seeking it, but you won't tell us, even in a classified, confidential setting. I think that position is disqualifying,” said Blumenthal.

The full transcript of Blumenthal’s first round of questioning can be found here, and a video can be found here. The full transcript of Blumenthal’s second round of questioning can be found here, and a video can be found here.

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