By Steve Neavling
FBI Director Kash Patel exchanged sharp words with U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean during a tense congressional hearing Wednesday, as the Pennsylvania Democrat accused him of lying under oath and aligning the bureau with far-right political interests.
The confrontation came during Patel’s testimony before a House Appropriations subcommittee, where Democrats pressed him on past statements and his ties to controversial figures, Newsweek reports. Dean, a frequent critic of the former Trump administration official, questioned Patel’s honesty and fitness to lead the FBI.
“You denied any role in the removal of FBI officials tied to January 6 investigations, and you claimed not to know Stew Peters, a Holocaust denier, despite appearing on his podcast eight times,” Dean said. “Should we be more concerned about your memory or your truthfulness?”
Patel responded forcefully, accusing Dean of political grandstanding.
“You’re accusing me of perjury — then say how. Don’t lie to the American people just to get a 20-second fundraising clip,” he said. When Dean replied, “The answer is both,” Patel shot back, “The answer is you’re failing.”
Patel, a longtime Trump loyalist, was narrowly confirmed as FBI director in February on a 51-49 vote, with Republican Senators Lisa Murkowski and Susan Collins joining Democrats in opposition. Critics, including Collins, cited Patel’s history of politicized rhetoric and actions that raised questions about his impartiality and judgment.
During his confirmation, Patel denied involvement in internal efforts to oust FBI officials tied to the Capitol riot investigation and distanced himself from extremist figures. But since then, whistleblowers and media reports have contradicted some of those claims, fueling Democratic concerns.
