FBI Director Kash Patel clashes with Senate Democrat over accusations of weaponizing bureau

A Democratic lawmaker clashed with FBI Director Kash Patel on Thursday, saying the bureau has been weaponized against President Trump’s “perceived enemies” under his leadership.

Sen. Patty Murray of Washington, the top Democrat on a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, got into a heated discussion with Mr. Patel over how the FBI was focusing its resources.

“President Trump has turned the Department of Justice into a tool to go after his perceived enemies, and many of the actions we have seen now at the FBI are alarming,” Ms. Murray told Mr. Patel. “The FBI has reassigned and pushed out career FBI agents for political reasons. We have seen fear and intimidation promoted throughout the bureau, including by polygraphing your own staff.”

Ms. Murray also criticized Mr. Patel for ordering the FBI to arrest Judge Hannah Dugan, the Milwaukee judge who allegedly enabled the escape from federal authorities of an illegal migrant from her courtroom. The migrant was quickly recaptured.

“You committed that there would be no politicization, no retribution at the FBI under your leadership,” she said. “You’ve reportedly placed FBI employees responsible for investigating the Jan. 6 cases on leave. Is that keeping up your promise of no politicization, no retribution?”

Mr. Patel replied, “It is, because that’s wildly inaccurate. Let me tell you what the FBI has done since I got there: 8,276 federal arrests, 820 kilograms seized of fentanyl that’s enough to kill a quarter million people, over 3,000 firearms seized, 350 gang cases, 3,000 cases against violent criminals…”

Ms. Murray interjected, “Well, that’s not my question. We know that.”

Mr. Patel said, “Well, you asked if I was weaponizing the FBI, and I am not.” 

He told Ms. Murray, “I’m giving you the hard, concrete examples of the men and women putting handcuffs on bad people doing harm to our children and innocent Americans. I do not see weaponization.”

Ms. Murray shot back, “Well, you have placed on leave FBI employees responsible for the investigation of Jan. 6, that sounds political to me.”

Mr. Patel responded, “I have not placed anyone on leave who has not violated their ethical obligation or their oath to the Constitution.”

Ms. Murray also criticized Mr. Patel for appearing before the panel without the FBI’s spending plan for fiscal year 2025 or a full budget request for fiscal year 2026. Both reports were due to Congress last week.

“The FBI is our nation’s leading law enforcement agency with a budget of $10.7 billion,” she said. “It is critical that we understand how you are spending taxpayer dollars. So, Director Patel, when should we expect this FY25 spending plan for the FBI? Have you seen it? Have you reviewed it? When will we get it?”

Mr. Patel promised to give the committee an answer later, but said he could not provide a timeline.

When Ms. Murray noted that the reports were already due by law last week, Mr. Patel replied, “I am following the law, and I’m working with my interagency partners to do this and get you the budget that you are required to have.”

Ms. Murray retorted, “Well, we also need a full budget request, not a single paragraph full of wild talking points that we saw with the skinny budget proposal,” referencing the White House’s initial budget proposal last week that was submitted to Congress.

“We’re now having a budget hearing without a budget request,” she said. She asked again for the FY 2026 budget request for the FBI. Mr. Patel responded, “It’s being worked on, ma’am.”

Ms. Murray asked again if he had reviewed or approved it, and he responded, “not yet.”

Sen. Chris Van Hollen, Maryland Democrat, said the FBI is 54 days late in submitting its spending plan for the current fiscal year, per a congressional requirement. 

Mr. Patel promised to comply with the requirement but said the FBI needs to work with the Office of Management and Budget on the apportionment for the spending plans of FY 2025.