FBI Director Kash Patel Faces Tough Questions in Congress Over Charlie Kirk Killing Probe
FBI Director Kash Patel is gearing up for a grilling from lawmakers as he tackles criticism over how his agency handled the investigation into the tragic killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk. Early blunders, like a false social media post claiming the suspect was in custody, have put Patel under the spotlight, according to Al Jazeera.
Patel will testify before the Senate and House judiciary committees on Tuesday and Wednesday. Lawmakers plan to quiz him not just on the Charlie Kirk case but also on his efforts to fix the FBI’s internal chaos. Since taking charge, the agency has been rocked by political fights and staff shake-ups, raising doubts about its stability.
US President Donald Trump gave Patel a shoutout on Saturday, praising the FBI for quickly identifying and arresting the alleged killer, Tyler Robinson. Trump highlighted the swift action in the Charlie Kirk assassination probe, but not everyone’s buying the praise.
Even some conservatives are slamming Patel’s leadership of the massive FBI, which employs 38,000 people including 13,000 agents. Christopher F. Rufo, a fellow at the conservative Manhattan Institute, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Friday to call out Patel’s recent flops. "It’s time for Republicans to ask if Kash Patel is the right guy to run the FBI," Rufo wrote. He added that Patel’s performance has been "terrible," and it’s unclear if he has the skills to tackle violent threats from any side.
Rufo said he’s chatted with top conservative leaders who back Trump but worry the FBI isn’t equipped for the job. Echoing that, conservative voice Erick Erickson posted on X: "The FBI situation is concerning."
The backlash kicked off right after Charlie Kirk’s death. Far-right groups mocked Patel for a botched X post hours later: "The subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody." Turns out, that was wrong, and the FBI had to correct it fast.
Republican Senate Minority Whip Dick Durbin blasted the mistake as "amateur hour" and questioned Patel’s professionalism. As the hunt for suspect Tyler Robinson dragged on, Patel reportedly got frustrated with his team for not updating him quickly enough – even delaying a photo of the shooter.
Adding to the mess, on the day of Kirk’s killing, three top FBI execs sued Patel. They claimed the Trump administration fired them in an August purge as payback. One, Brian Driscoll, said he got the boot for pushing back on orders during the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot investigation.
Patel’s also catching heat for focusing FBI resources on illegal immigration probes, street crime crackdowns, and old Trump complaints from the Russia investigation era – long after it wrapped up.
Gregory Brower, a former FBI bigwig on congressional relations, told Al Jazeera that with all this Senate skepticism, Patel needs to shine in these hearings. "It’s extremely important he performs well," Brower stressed.
The FBI isn’t commenting on Patel’s upcoming testimony. As the Charlie Kirk killing investigation unfolds, eyes are on whether Patel can steady the ship and rebuild trust in the FBI.
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