In his remarks, Patel could not remember who Stew Peters, a far-right internet personality, is despite going on his podcast eight times; breaks with President Trump on pardoning those who harm law enforcement
WASHINGTON – U.S. Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, today questioned Kash Patel, President Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), during his nomination hearing. Durbin first asked Mr. Patel about President Trump’s decision to pardon the violent January 6 insurrections—several of whom have already been rearrested or are wanted for vile crimes committed prior to January 6, 2021, including soliciting a sexual relationship with a minor.
“[Matthew Huddle] is a man found guilty of numerous crimes… he beat his three-year-old child to a point where the poor kid could not sit down for a week. Mr. Huddle was one of the demonstrators who came to the Capitol on January 6. He was incarcerated and charged and pled guilty to crimes that he had committed—violence against police officers. After he was released by President Trump, he returned to Indiana. A few days later, he was stopped on the road, pulled a gun on a policeman, and the policeman and the sheriff’s deputy shot and killed him. This is not the only instance of a person who received President Trump’s clemency committing another crime. Peter Schwartz was mentioned this morning on the radio—38 criminal convictions. He had been sentenced to 14 years in prison. He was released because of the President’s unconditional clemency as well. My question is this: was President Donald Trump wrong to [grant] blanket clemency for January 6 defendants?” Durbin asked.
In his response, Mr. Patel broke with President Trump and stated, “I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement.”
“Do you think that America is safer because these [1,500] people have come out of serving their sentences and live in our communities again?” Durbin asked.
Mr. Patel responded that he has “always advocated for imprisoning those who cause harm to our law enforcement and civilian communities,” again, breaking away from President Trump’s views.
Durbin continued, “You will not answer the question. I do not think we are safer that Matthew Huddle was sent back to Indiana. I do not think we are safer with Peter Schwartz, and I can go through a long list of individuals.”
Durbin then asked Mr. Patel about his involvement with the “J6 prison choir.” He co-produced, promoted, and sold a record recorded by the so-called “J6 prison choir”—a group of January 6 insurrectionists who were incarcerated in the D.C. jail in February 2023. Mr. Patel has described the choir’s members as “political prisoners.” Notably, he has declined to identify the members of the choir.
Durbin said, “My understanding is that the performers of this ‘J6 choir’ were the rioters who were imprisoned.”
Mr. Patel responded that “he had nothing to do with the recording.”
Durbin followed up, “You are not aware of who made the recording?”
To which Mr. Patel responded “no.”
Durbin then asked about Mr. Patel’s affiliations with problematic individuals. He has frequently associated with—and sometimes praised—extremist figures with well-documented histories of racist, antisemitic, conspiratorial, or violent statements or beliefs.
“In September of 2023 you appeared with Laura Loomer [at] an event promoting your book, [Government Gangsters]. You shared a photo of yourself where you held her book and she held hers. Just a few months before this event, Ms. Loomer posted on ‘X’ that the September 11 terrorists attacks were ‘an inside job’ and accused Florida’s First Lady, Casey DeSantis, of exaggerating her cancer diagnosis to gain voter sympathy. A number of my Republican colleagues have criticized Ms. Loomer’s extremism. One of my colleagues described her as ‘a crazy conspiracy theorist who regularly utters disgusting garbage.’ Given all of this, why did you associate with Ms. Loomer?” Durbin asked.
Mr. Patel dismissed the question.
Durbin then asked about his relationship with Stew Peters—an alt-right internet personality. Between October 2021 and June 2022, Mr. Patel made eight separate appearances on a podcast hosted by Stew Peters. Before and during that stint, Mr. Peters promoted outrageous conspiracy theories and worked with a prominent neo-Nazi. In mid-2021, Mr. Peters promoted a baseless assertion that Chief Justice John Roberts and former Vice President Mike Pence were pedophiles.
“Are you familiar with Mr. Stew Peters? Does that ring a bell?” Durbin asked.
“I’m sorry, what?” Patel said.
“Are you familiar with Mr. Stew Peters?” Durbin asked.
“Not off of the top of my head,” said Patel.
“You made eight separate appearances on his podcast, and he promoted outrageous conspiracy theories and worked with a prominent neo-Nazi. The list goes on. I am just asking when it comes to your association with individuals, why are so many of them in this category?” Durbin asked.
Mr. Patel responded that he went on these seriously problematic podcasts “to take on” people who are putting out conspiracy theories and “de-vow them of their false impressions and to talk to them about the truth.”
Video of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here.
Footage of Durbin’s first round of questions in Committee is available here for TV Stations.
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