Video: Blumenthal Slams Nomination of Kash Patel to Lead FBI at Press Conference Outside FBI Headquarters & on the Senate Floor
“He lacks the judgment, he lacks the integrity, he lacks the character and competence to be FBI Director.”
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) spoke on the Senate Floor today ahead of a vote to confirm President Trump’s nominee for FBI Director Kash Patel. In his remarks, Blumenthal criticized Patel’s defects of character and professional experience that should be disqualifying to his nomination for FBI Director.
“We live in a time that is not ordinary, and this nominee is not normal. I've never seen any nominee to a position of significant responsibility that has as many disqualifying factors in his or her background.
Blumenthal continued, “We need now more than ever an FBI Director who is trustworthy and devoted to the ideals and values of the Department of Justice and the Constitution, above all. Anyone taking one of those jobs raises their right hand and swears an oath to the Constitution—not to the President, not to the Attorney General, not to any other official. It is to the Constitution. Kash Patel is not that person, not the person to have that immense responsibility, most especially at this moment. He lacks the judgment, he lacks the integrity, he lacks the character and competence to be FBI Director.”
Earlier today, Blumenthal spoke at a press conference outside of the FBI headquarters with his fellow Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats, opposing Patel’s nomination.
“There are just overwhelming factors that argue he is unprepared and unqualified—he has an enemies list, he has these foreign entanglements, he has talked about and glorified the January 6th rioters as political prisoners. There’s no question that he is unqualified and unprepared. The only question is whether my Republican colleagues will do the right thing. And let me say to Republicans who may vote for Kash Patel, this vote will haunt you. You will be held accountable. You will rue the day of this vote if it’s in favor of Kash Patel because the American people will hold you accountable,” said Blumenthal.
A video of Blumenthal’s remarks on the Senate Floor can be found here, and a video of his remarks at the press conference can be found here.
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