Kash Patel hearing: FBI director nominee pressed on Jan. 6, conspiracy comments

President Trump's pick to lead the FBI faced his Senate confirmation hearing.

Last Updated: January 30, 2025, 3:54 PM EST

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's pick for FBI director, faced members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in his confirmation hearing Thursday.

Patel, a staunch Trump ally, was the acting deputy director of national intelligence during the last year of Trump's first presidency. He has said it's his mission to "annihilate" the so-called "Deep State" of "unelected tyrants" inside government.

Among his supporters, Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, has called Patel's career "a study in fighting for unpopular but righteous causes, exposing corruption, and putting America First."

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Here's how the news is developing. All times Eastern.
Jan 30, 2025, 3:54 PM EST

Hearing concludes after more than 5 hours

"Mr. Patel, thank you for your testimony today," Sen. Grassley said as the hearing drew to a close.

Remarking on Patel's testimony over the course of the day, the GOP committee chairman said, "I think you're a person that can stand a lot of heat, including a president telling you how to do your job."

"If confirmed, you'll be in charge of one of the world's best law enforcement agencies at a time when it desperately needs strong changes," Grassley said before gaveling out the hearing.

Jan 30, 2025, 2:01 PM EST

Schiff hammers Patel over support for Jan. 6 choir

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., grew irate as he repeatedly questioned Patel over his past vocal support for the "Jan. 6 choir."

Earlier in the hearing, Patel had sought to distance himself from the violent rioters who were a part of the choir, and claimed he had nothing to do with the recording of the group singing the national anthem that President Trump played multiple times at rallies during his 2024 campaign.

But Schiff presented Patel with a direct quote from one of his appearances on Steve Bannon's podcast, where he stated, "So what we thought would be cool is if we captured that audio and then, of course, had the greatest president, President Donald J. Trump, recite the pledge of allegiance, then we went to a studio and recorded it, mastered it, digitized it, and put it out as a song."

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, grew irate as he repeatedly questioned Kash Patel over his past vocal support for the "Jan. 6 choir."
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Schiff hammers Patel over support for Jan. 6 choirSen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif, grew irate as he repeatedly questioned Kash Patel over his past vocal support for the "Jan. 6 choir."
ABCNews.com

"You're part of the 'we,' right? When you say 'we,' that includes you, doesn't it Mr. Patel?" Schiff said.

Sen. Adam Schiff questions Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of the FBI, during a confirmation hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 30, 2025.
Ben Curtis/AP

"Not in every instance," Patel shot back.

Schiff then continued to push Patel -- at one point directing him to turn toward Capitol Police officers in the room, and tell them he was "proud" of promoting the choir's song.

"I'm looking at you," Patel told Schiff, refusing to turn toward the officers.

Jan 30, 2025, 12:35 PM EST

Patel declines to say Biden won 2020 election

In another exchange with Sen. Hirono, Patel declined to say that former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election -- echoing the answer given by other Trump allies who have been questioned in their confirmation hearings.

Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of the FBI, appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his confirmation hearing, at the Capitol in Washington, Jan. 30, 2025.
J. Scott Applewhite/AP

"President Biden's election was certified. He was sworn in and he served as a president the United States," Patel said.

Jan 30, 2025, 12:31 PM EST

Patel won't provide details of supplement endorsement

In an exchange with Sen. Mazie Hirono, Patel was questioned over a "supplement" he promoted to his followers that he claimed would act as a "detox" to rid them of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Patel pushed back, asking Hirono, "Senator, do you know of any individuals who died as a result of the vaccine? Because I do."

The nominee did not provide further details about his claim.

Hirono repeatedly asked Patel if he made money as a result of promoting the supplements, but Patel declined to answer the question directly -- referring Hirono to his financial disclosures provided to the committee.