FBI Director Kash Patel is set to appear Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee for an oversight hearing focused on his leadership of the bureau. Republicans are expected to highlight his work on violent crime, drug trafficking and the Trump administration’s agenda, while Democrats are likely to scrutinize turmoil inside the FBI over the past year.
The Republican-led committee has principal oversight jurisdiction over the FBI. Patel has appeared before Congress multiple times as director, including to testify about the bureau’s budget, but Tuesday’s hearing will be his first appearance before this committee since last September.
Democrats are expected to raise sweeping firings of agents who took part in investigations into President Donald Trump, the bureau’s efforts to investigate people Trump regards as political adversaries, and Patel’s travel schedule, which has combined private leisure with professional responsibilities. The hearing comes as Democratic senators continue to criticize Patel’s leadership and conduct.
Patel’s previous appearance before the committee included personal exchanges with Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff of California. Patel shouted over Schiff and called him an “utter disgrace” and a “coward,” while Schiff responded: “You can make an internet troll the FBI director, but he will always be an internet troll.” Tuesday’s session is expected to be similarly contentious.
Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the committee’s top Democrat, called in April for Patel to be replaced after The Atlantic published allegations of excessive drinking. Patel subsequently filed a $250 million defamation lawsuit, describing the article as false and a “malicious hit piece.” The Atlantic said it stood by its reporting and would vigorously defend against what it called a “meritless lawsuit.”