‘I’m Not Gonna Tolerate It!’ Kash Patel Fumes at Senate Democrat Over January 6th Retribution Questions

Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), the ranking Democrat and Vice Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, sparred with FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday when she accused him of weaponizing the FBI during a Senate hearing.

“Well, you asked if I was weaponizing the FBI, and I am not. I’m giving you the hard concrete examples of the men and women putting handcuffs on bad people, doing harm to our children, and innocent Americans. I do not see a weaponization—” Patel said during the questioning as Murray hit back, “But you have placed on leave FBI employees responsible for the investigation of January 6th. That sounds political to me.”

Patel responded, “I have not placed anyone on leave who has not violated their ethical obligation or their oath to the Constitution.”

“So if they were investigating January 6, you believe they were violating an ethical obligation?” Murray hit back.

“Nope, I think the common theme here is you putting words in my mouth, and I’m not going to tolerate it! Nor will the men and women of the FBI,” Patel fumed.

Murray pressed, “Well, you did place on leave an analyst responsible for investigating Russia’s meddling in the 2016 election. Is that politicization? Is that retribution?”

“No, not if she broke the law or the ethical guidelines. I don’t know which case you’re talking about, but that’s the standard,” Patel insisted, adding:

And we will hold ourselves inwardly accountable. And we’ll not be strayed from our mission because people think we are politicizing the Bureau. If you want to talk about someone who was attacked by a weaponized Bureau, you’re looking at him. And now he’s the director of the FBI and he’s cleaning it up.

Murray concluded, “Well, I would just say to everyone who’s listening that the FBI needs to be focused on its mission to keep the entire country safe. It should not be weaponized for partisan political gain. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.”

Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.