Cory Booker Explodes on Trump FBI Director in Epic Hearing Brawl

Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) exploded at Trump FBI Director Kash Patel in a hearing exchange that turned into an outright brawl.

Amid bipartisan criticism over his handling of the Charlie Kirk murder investigation, Director Patel testified before a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.

That hearing continued on Tuesday’s edition of CNN’s Inside Politics, during which Sen. Booker dug in and twisted the knife by telling Patel he didn’t think he was long for the job.

When Director Patel launched into a bitter retort to the “rant,” the exchange became a throwdown that wound up involving committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA):

SEN. CORY BOOKER: I don’t think you’re fit to be in the bureau, but here’s the thing, Mr. Patel. I think you are not going to be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing. Because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the Constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose. This may be the last time I have a hearing with you because I don’t think you’r long for your job. But I’m going to tell you this. I pray for you. I pray that you can step up and defend your oath, defend the Constitution, and do a much better job of defending this country. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY: Do you want to say anything?

FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: Yes, sir. That rant of false information does not bring this country together. If you want to work on bringing this country, it’s my time, not yours.

My God, my God!

If you want to talk about–.

SEN. CORY BOOKER: –dividing this country–.

FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: It is my time.

SEN. CORY BOOKER: I follow you on your social media posts that tear this country apart.

FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: It is my time to address your falsehoods.

SEN. CORY BOOKER: You can try all you want to not take responsibility for what you have said.

FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: You had your time. Your time is over.

SEN. CORY BOOKER: Sir, you don’t tell me my time is over! The people of New Jersey tell me what my time, you can’t lecture me–.

(CROSSTALK).

SEN. CORY BOOKER: I am not afraid of you! I am NOT afraid of YOU!

UNIDENTIFIED: Mr. Chairman– Mr. Chair, point of order.

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY: Senator Booker, I announced at the beginning of this meeting that this back and forth talking over each other doesn’t work and I said if that happened, I asked Patel not to respond and I was going to give him some time after the Senator’s time was up to respond and He has the privilege to do that.

SEN. CORY BOOKER: Mr. Chairman, one point of order.

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY: Go ahead, Mr. Patel.

SEN. CORY BOOKER: I’ve watched him talk over us, and you’ve never once criticized him for us not even being able to get our questions out. He has been rude and disrespectful to Senator after Senator!

SEN. CHUCK GRASSLEY: And when the senators were not giving him a chance to answer I didn’t stop the senator either. Go ahead senator.

FBI DIRECTOR KASH PATEL: Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Watch above via CNN’s Inside Politics.