Adam Schiff Challenges Kash Patel to Look Capitol Police In The Eyes And Tell Them He ‘Raised Money Off Of People That Assaulted Their Colleagues’
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) ripped into Kash Patel at a Thursday hearing, challenging him to turn around and look Capitol police officers in the eyes and “tell them you’re proud that you raised money off of people that assaulted their colleagues.”
Patel, President Donald Trump’s pick to head the FBI, went through his first Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday where his connection to Jan. 6 Capitol rioters was the focus of some lawmakers. Patel said he had helped to raise money for the families of “non-violent” rioters behind bars by producing and promoting a song performed by rioters.
Schiff ripped into Patel and told him to tell Capitol police officers present at the hearing that he’s “proud” of his actions. Patel was also questioned about Trump’s presidential pardons of more than 1,000 rioters, including those who had been violent with police. Patel said he supported imprisoning anyone who assaults law enforcement.
Patel did not take Schiff up on his offer and remained short with the senator until he moved on to another question. Schiff suggested Patel did not have the “courage” to look the officers in the eyes.
Check out the exchange below:
ADAM SCHIFF: “I want you to turn around. There are Capitol police officers behind you. They’re guarding us right now. Take a look at them right now. Turn around.”
KASH PATEL: “I’m looking at you. You’re talking to me.”
SCHIFF: “No, look at them. I want you to look at them if you can. If you have the courage to look them in the eye, Mr. Patel, and tell them you’re proud of what you did. Tell them you’re proud that you raised money off of people that are that assaulted their colleagues, that pepper sprayed them, that beat them with poles. Tell them you’re proud of what you did, Mr. Patel. They’re right there. They’re guarding you today. Tell them how proud you are.”
PATEL: “That’s an abject lie, and you know it. I’ve never, never, ever accepted violence against law enforcement. I’ve worked with these men and women as you know my entire life, and I did not make a single dime out of it. How about you ask them if I have their backs and you see about that answer.”
SCHIFF: “MR. Patel, let me ask you this. If an FBI director promoted a song of people who sprayed pepper spray in the face of an FBI agent, would you say they were fit to be director?”
PATEL: “Mr. Schiff —”
SCHIFF: “Yes or no, are they fit to be the director?”
PATEL: “I am fit to be the director of the FBI.”
SCHIFF: “Speaker 1: If you were the FBI director and you promoted a song by someone who beat an FBI agent with a pole, would you say you are fit to be FBI director?”
PATEL: “Mr. Schiff, I am fit to be FBI director based on my 16 years of experience
SCHIFF: “And yet you did all these things, Mr. Patel. You can say, I support law enforcement. I decry violence against law enforcement. You could say all that. It’s what you did, Mr. Patel, that matters. It’s what you did that matters.”
Watch above via CSPAN.
