Kashyap “Kash” Patel is waiting to see if he’ll become the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
He underwent a harsh grilling from U.S. Senate Democrats during last week’s confirmation hearing, but got a warm reception from Republicans, including Missouri’s Eric Schmitt. He used the word game “Would You Rather” to craft his line of questions for Patel.
Schmitt: “Would You Rather the FBI prosecute and persecute parents who voice legitimate concerns at school board meetings? Or should it investigate domestic terrorists who commit school shootings and threaten the lives of American children?”
Patel: “Absolutely investigate, prioritize the safety of our children and any actual and real domestic terrorists, as I prosecuted in my past in the Obama Justice Department.”
Schmitt: “Would You Rather the FBI be weaponized by investigating presidential candidates, political opponents, spying on and wiretapping candidates’ advisers, or should the FBI get back to its core mission, and get politics out of the FBI?”
Patel: “There should be no politics in the FBI and having been a victim of the weaponization of law enforcement against me, I know what that feels like, and if I’m confirmed, I will make sure no American feels that sleight of hand ever again.”
Schmitt: “Would You Rather the FBI target traditional Catholics as extremists, or should the FBI focus on investigating actual threats posed to the American people by cartels pumping fentanyl into our communities through the southern border?”
Patel: “100,000 deaths due to fentanyl drug overdoses in one year. I’d rather the FBI focus on that and save our children.”
Schmitt: “Would You Rather the FBI ignore when thugs threaten to harm and plot against Supreme Court justices, or should the FBI actually investigate that and get to the bottom of it?”
Patel: “I’m so glad you brought that up, Senator. This body passed a law to protect our justices of the peace, including the Supreme Court, and every single justice of the peace deserves that enforcement of that law so they can do their duty.”
Schmitt: “Would you rather the FBI pressure social media companies into censoring conservative viewpoints, or should it focus on what the FBI should get back to, which is investigating interstate crimes that threaten the wellbeing of Americans?”
Patel: “No censorship. Let’s focus on investigating interstate crimes.”
Schmitt: “Would you rather the FBI raid the home of a former president and chief political rival, going through the First Lady’s personal belongings, spreading out documents on the floor, staged, or should it raid the homes of terrorists who seek to harm citizens?”
Patel: “Let’s let our men and women in law enforcement kick down the doors of terrorists and narco traffickers and pedophiles and put those people in prison where they belong.”
Democrats, meanwhile, attacked Patel over past comments praising January 6th rioters and threatening to prosecute President Trump’s political enemies. Patel in turn accused Democrats of his taking past comments out of context.
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