Kash Patel Melts Down In Congressional Hearing When Asked About Trump’s Name Being In the Epstein Files
Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-CA) and FBI Director Kash Patel sparred during a heated House hearing exchange on the Jeffrey Epstein files on Wednesday. Swalwell repeatedly pushed Patel about whether or not President Donald Trump was given notice that his name is in the files, as has been reported, resulting in Patel attacking Swalwell’s time in office.
Swalwell began by asking, “Director, the first time you saw Donald Trump’s name was in the Epstein files. Did you close the files or keep reading?”
“I have not reviewed the entirety of the files,” Patel hit back.
“You haven’t reviewed all of the Epstein files?” Swalwell pushed. “Personally, no,” Patel replied.
“You’re the director of the FBI. This is the largest sex trafficking case the FBI has ever been a part of. The buck stops at the top, and your testimony today is you have not reviewed all of the files?” Swalwell asked.
Patel hit back, “What I’ve been doing is busy providing the safest country this country has seen in modern U.S. history in historic speed, because the men and women of the FBI are given the resources to reduce the homicide rate, to reduce the drug trafficking rate, to reduce the number of children that are being trafficked, and the number of pedophiles that we’ve arrested.”
Swalwell replied, “Well, it sounds like those children being trafficked would appreciate the director reviewing the files. You said you don’t know the number of times Trump’s name appears in the files, so it could be at least a thousand times, is that right?”
Patel replied that “the number is a totally misleading factor,” and the two sparred back and forth about how many times Trump’s name might be mentioned.
“Do you think it might be your job to know the number?” Swalwell jabbed.
“My job is to provide for the safety and security of this country. My job isn’t to engage in political innuendo, so you can go out to the sticks and get your 20-second hit in your fundraising article. You keep going, reclaiming your time because the people of California are being underserved by your representation,” Patel hit back.
Swalwell later asked, “Director. Remembering your oath to tell the truth, did you ever tell Donald Trump his name is in the files?”
“I have never spoken to President Trump about the Epstein files,” Patel replied as the exchange heated up.
Read the rest of the exchange below:
Swalwell: Did you ever tell the attorney general that Donald Trump’s name is in the Epstein files?
Patel: The attorney general and I have had numerous discussions about the entirety of the Epstein files and the reviews conducted by our team.
Swalwell: Did you tell the attorney general that Donald Trump’s name is in the Epstein files?
Patel: And we have released where President Trump’s name is in the Epstein files.
Swalwell: It’s a simple question. Did you tell the attorney general that the president’s name is in the Epstein files?
Patel: During many conversations that the attorney general and I have had on the matter of Epstein, we have reviewed—
Swalwell: The question is simple. Did you tell the attorney general that Donald Trump’s name is in the Epstein files? Yes or no?
Patel: Why don’t you try spelling it out?
Swalwell: Yes or no, Director. Yes or no.
Patel: Use the alphabet. A, B, C.
Swalwell: Director, it sounds like you don’t want to tell us. Did you tell the attorney general that Donald Trump’s name was in the Epstein files?
Patel: Why don’t you try serving your constituency by focusing on reducing violent crime in this country and the number of pedophiles that are legally harbored in your sanctuary cities in California? I’ll work with you on that. Do you want to work with us on that?
Swalwell: Did you tell the attorney general that Donald Trump’s name is in the Epstein files?
Patel: The question has been asked and answered.
Swalwell: You’ve not answered it, and we will take your evasiveness as a consciousness of guilt.
Watch the clip above via C-SPAN.
