Kash Patel Refuses to Answer Question About Alleged Plans to ‘Gut’ FBI Under Trump’s Orders: ‘We Can Move On’

Kash Patel refused to answer a question about his self-declared plan to “gut” the FBI as directed by President Donald Trump should he become its director.

Patel on Thursday appeared before the Senate for his confirmation hearing. He was one of a number of unexpected nominations when Trump tapped him to become the director of the FBI. Throughout the day of questioning, Patel was asked about his repeated appearances on the podcast of a prominent anti-Semite, and also described the ways in which he’s been a victim of racism.

When U.S. Sen. Corey Booker (D-NJ) had the floor, he pressed Patel about his previous threats to shut down the FBI and replace a number of key positions. He also accused Patel of doing Trump’s bidding.

“I don’t think you’ve done a serious analysis, but I do think you have an assignment from Donald Trump to gut the FBI,” Booker said. “You said yourself, ‘I’ll shut down the FBI Hoover Building.’ There are people specifically that you are targeting, I believe, and do you agree that you have already prepared plans to remove certain individuals from their offices? For example: individuals that will be replaced by political personnel. The political personnel that are being put in — in an institution, that you and I discussed, that has no political appointees but one — the political personnel involve these names: Erica Knight, Tom Ferguson–”

Booker was then cut off to allow Patel to answer the question, but Patel declined.

“We can move on,” Patel said.

Watch above via C-SPAN