FBI Director nominee Kash Patel was involved in a tense exchange with Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., on Thursday over President Donald Trump’s pardon of Jan. 6 rioters earlier this year.
—
KashPatel,PresidentDonaldTrump’snomineetoleadtheFederalBureauofInvestigation,pushedbackinhisconfirmationhearingafterhewasgrilledonthepresident’spardoningofJan.6rioters.
“SodoyouthinkthatAmericaissaferbecausethe1,600peoplehavebeengivenanopportunitytocomeoutofservingtheirsentencesandliveinourcommunitiesagain?”Sen.DickDurbin,D-Ill.,askedPatelduringThursday’shearing,pressinghimonJan.6rioterswhoassaultedpoliceofficershavingtheirsentencescommutedearlierthismonth.
PatelrespondedwithareferencetoBiden’sdecisioninthefinalhoursofhispresidencyto freeLeonardPeltier,afar-leftactivistconvictedinthe1975murdersoftwoFBIspecialagents,RonaldWilliamsandJackColer,whoweregunneddowninashootoutinSouthDakota.
“Senator,Ihavenotlookedatall1,600individualcases,”Patelsaid.
DOZENSOFFORMERFBIAGENTSRALLYAROUNDKASHPATEL̵