FBI nominee Patel, California's Adam Schiff battle in Senate confirmation hearing

David Lightman, The Sacramento Bee on Jan 30, 2025

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WASHINGTON — FBI nominee Kash Patel said in his 2023 book that Adam Schiff was one of Washington’s “corrupt actors of the first order.”

Thursday, Schiff, now a U.S. senator and member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, was given the opportunity to grill his detractor. And he did so, relentlessly.

Patel continually emphasized his commitment to strong law enforcement. “Let good cops be cops,” he said, would be a primary goal.

Schiff, like other Democrats, expressed concerns about Patel’s history as an outspoken FBI critic. He was particularly irked by how Patel promoted a recording by people imprisoned because of their involvement in the January 6 Capitol riot. It was recorded by the prisoners over a phone and included President Donald Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

On a March, 2023, post on Trump’s Truth Social site, Patel said “This powerful and moving song raises awareness and support for the political prisoners still locked in jail without trial following the January 6th protest in 2021.”

Schiff has been a favorite Trump target. The senator, then a Los Angeles congressman, was the lead prosecutor in the House’s 2020 impeachment of Trump.

The Republican-led House censured Schiff in 2023 on a party line vote, saying he deceived the public about links between Trump’s campaign and Russia. Schiff called the charges “false and defamatory.”

Thursday, Patel faced Schiff at the hearing.

Schiff vs. Patel

An estimated 140 police officers were assaulted that day. Trump last week pardoned those convicted of crimes associated with the Capitol riot.

“I want you to turn around. There are Capitol police officers behind you. They’re guarding us. Take a look at them right now. Turn around,” Schiff said.

Patel was expressionless. “I’m looking at you. You’re talking to me,” he told Schiff icily.

“No, no. Look at them,” Schiff persisted, adding, “Tell them you’re proud you raised money off people who assaulted their colleagues. That pepper sprayed them, that beat them with poles,” Schiff said.

“That’s an abject lie… I’ve never, never ever advocated violence against law enforcement,” Patel insisted.

“You glorified it in song, Mr. Patel,” Schiff said.

Patel and the FBI

Trump nominated Patel, a former House Intelligence Committee staff member and federal prosecutor, to replace Christopher Wray at the FBI.

Patel has said he would close the agency’s headquarters building in downtown Washington and reopen it a day later “as a museum of the ‘deep state.’”

In his 2023 book, “Government Gangsters,” he named 60 people he said were “members of the executive branch deep state.” The alphabetical list included Wray, former Trump administration Attorney General William Barr and former Trump National Security Adviser John Bolton.

Schiff was among a separate group that included “the entire fake media news corps” and Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Castro Valley.

Republicans were quick to defend Patel. “Mr. Patel has said he believes that people who do this should be named, and that Americans deserve transparency so that they can make their own judgment, as they did this last election,” said Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa.

He also cited a list of police organizations that support Patel.

“Mr. Patel has been accused of having an enemies list. This is not a fair characterization. As he has stated, “there is no revenge list.” Mr. Patel has identified those he believes have put politics and personal ambition over service to the country,” Grassley said.

Padilla questions Patel

Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., also a committee member, saw contradictions in Patel’s positions on Section 702, which permits the government to collect information from foreign sources outside the United States with no warrant.

Critics have charged the law does allow American communications to be included, and gives enforcers needlessly broad investigative authority.

Padilla cited a Patel comment from September where he told the Shawn Ryan Show podcast that House Republicans “bent the knee” by reauthorizing 702 and not adopting needed reforms

Patel is now saying the latest version of 702 is acceptable. “Which is it, they bent the need and didn’t reform 702 as you would suggest, or they’ve gone a long way?” asked Padilla.

“702 is a necessary tool to protect this country….I think we need it and I think we need to work with Congress to reform it,” Patel said.

Padilla pressed him. Which is your opinion, that Republicans bent the knee or reforms have gone a long way, the senator asked.. “They seem like contradictory statements,” Padilla said.

“702 is a critical tool and I’m proud of the reforms that have been implemented and I’m proud to work with Congress moving forward to implement more reforms,” Patel said.

“You bent the knee and now you’re proud of it. Got it,” Padilla responded.

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