A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing with FBI Director Kash Patel erupted like a volcano on Tuesday, as Democrats repeatedly attacked and yelled at Patel, and he fired back at each one without hesitation.
The committee’s annual FBI Oversight Hearing was held less than one week since the assassination of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk in Utah prompted a massive manhunt by the FBI and other authorities. Thanks to Patel quickly releasing images of the gunman, the suspect was taken into custody within 48 hours.
However, instead of praising Patel for his work, Democrats piled on during Tuesday’s hearing, attacking Patel over multiple issues.
Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) complained that Patel has required that female applicants to the FBI must meet certain physical requirements, including the ability to do pull-ups. Suddenly noting the differences between men and women, Hirono complained that the pull-up requirement may reduce the number of women able to work for the agency.
“You are now requiring applicants to be able to do a certain kind of pull-ups which a lot of women cannot because of physiological differences. Are you requiring these kinds of pull-ups?” Hirono asked Patel.
He fired back, “We are requiring a physical program at BTFC at Quantico because FBI agents carrying guns in the field have to chase down bad guys and do really hard work. The physical fitness standards of those agents are appropriately assessed.”
“We are requiring everybody to pass the 1811 standards at BTFC. If you want to chase down a bad guy and put him in handcuffs, you better be able to do a pull-up,” he added.
WATCH THIS:
Sen. @maziehirono asks about requiring FBI agents to do pull-ups.
FBI Director Kash Patel: “If you want to chase down a bad guy and put him in handcuffs you better be able to do a pull-up…Doing one pull-up is not harsh.” pic.twitter.com/xBEtdWpGeZ
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 16, 2025
Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) got into a literal screaming match with Patel, as he accused him of firing some FBI employees simply because they weren’t loyal to President Donald Trump.
The grilling escalated into a fiery eruption the further it went. Yelling accusations, Booker refused to even let Patel respond, continually talking over him, as Patel fired right back at the Democrat lawmaker.
“Because of your failures of leadership, I don’t think you’re fit to lead the bureau. Here’s the thing, Mr. Patel, I think you’re not going to be around long. I think this might be your last full oversight hearing,” Booker raged, adding, “Because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term, and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose!”
“This may be the last time I have a hearing with you, because I don’t think you’re long for your job,” Booker continued.
Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley had to repeatedly bang his gavel at the end to bring the discussion to a close.
WATCH the explosive exchange below:
Sen. @CoryBooker to FBI Director Kash Patel: “I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe. I believe that we are more vulnerable to a major event…I think you’re not going to be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing…” pic.twitter.com/9DQrtQkzo1
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 16, 2025
Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) also launched into a wild tirade against Patel, dragging up the Jeffrey Epstein case.
Patel fired right back at Schiff, declaring, “You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the U.S. Senate! You are a disgrace to this institution and an utter coward…you are political buffoon at best!”
“I’m not surprised that you continue to lie from your perch and put on a show so you can go raise money for your charade,” Patel also declared. “Take it to the bank that the FBI is protecting this country and the state and citizens of the California… But all you care about is a child sex predator that was prosecuted by a prior administration and the Obama Justice Department and the Biden Justice Department did squat!”
“And what did President Trump do? Bring new charges courageously. And what have we done? You said I’m the most transparent FBI director in history? 33,000 pages of information to you,” Patel continued. “I challenge you to say anything credibly to the truth. Go ahead and run to the cameras where you want to go now.”
WATCH BELOW:
FBI Director Kash Patel to @SenAdamSchiff: “You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the U.S. Senate. You are a disgrace to this institution and an utter coward…you are political buffoon at best!” pic.twitter.com/EUt66kRfBq
— CSPAN (@cspan) September 16, 2025
BELOW is a video of the entire 4 and 1/2 hour hearing:
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