2 hours ago
Last Updated:September 16, 2025, 20:35 IST
The FBI director underlined his experience as a congressional staffer and Trump administration official
The FBI director underlined his experience as a congressional staffer and Trump administration official. (Reuters file)
FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday told a US Senate panel that he is not going anywhere amid rumours that he might resign from his post in the wake of growing scrutiny about his handling of the murder investigation of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk.
“I’m not going anywhere," Patel said during his opening statement in his appearance before the Senate Judiciary Committee.
During the hearing, the FBI director underlined his experience as a congressional staffer and Trump administration official and said, “If you want to criticise my 16 years of service, please bring it on."
The FBI chief said that he was focused on building public trust and increasing transparency. He also claimed that there is an increase in FBI arrests for violent crime and seizures of illegal guns during his tenure.
Patel drew scrutiny from current and former US officials after inaccurately posting on social media on Wednesday that the person responsible for the shooting of Kirk, an important leader of the young conservative movement, was in custody. The FBI later clarified that at that point, two individuals had been questioned and released.
However, the actual suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, was not arrested until Thursday night.
Despite criticism, President Donald Trump praised Patel for the speed with which the FBI identified and nabbed Robinson was nabbed.
Patel may also be asked by panel Democrats about claims from three former senior FBI officials who sued last week, claiming they were fired for being insufficiently loyal to Trump.
Questioned on the recent firings of FBI agents, Patel said he would not get into personnel decisions and accused the Democrat of unfairly attacking FBI leadership.
Patel called it “absolutely disgraceful" to cite what the FBI director described as a “one-sided story" about the firings. “Your attack on the current leadership of the men and women of the FBI is equally disgraceful," the FBI director added.
(with inputs from AP, Reuters)
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Saurabh Verma covers general, national and international day-to-day news for News18.com as a Senior Sub-editor. He keenly observes politics. You can follow him on Twitter --twitter.com/saurabhkverma19
Location :
Washington D.C., United States of America (USA)
First Published:
September 16, 2025, 20:24 IST
News world ‘Bring It On’: FBI Chief Kash Patel Dares Senators Amid Heat Over Charlie Kirk Probe
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