Kash Patel clashes with Dems about possibly sending FBI agents to polling places

FBI Director Kash Patel during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday was pressed about whether he would send the FBI agents to polling places -- clashing with Democrats over the topic.

Democratic Sen. Peter Welch asked Patel about a comment from Michigan governor candidate John James, who said in a podcast interview last month that he had a conversation with with Patel, who told him "that the FBI will have a presence leading up to Election Day in Michigan, in both West Michigan and in Southeast Michigan."

"We have an election crimes community coordinator in all 56 field office, so you bet we're going to have them there and manning the post for election interference matters," Patel said.

Election crimes community coordinators are typically stationed near polling places for crime prevention and immediate response in case of an incident. The Department of Justice has poll monitors at polling places nationwide, but they don't serve the same role.

In some states, it is not legal for law enforcement to be inside a polling location.

When asked to pledge that the FBI wouldn't interfere in the election, Patel attacked Welch.

"I have pledged unequivocally that I will not participate in your charade of lies," Patel said.

Democratic Sen. Richard Blumenthal also asked Patel whether he thought it was against the law to send FBI agent to the polls.

"I don't know that we can't legally do it," Patel responded.

Blumenthal said he was "dissatisfied that you are unable to give us an unequivocal, clear, unambiguous commitment that the FBI will be kept out of election interference."

Concerns about changes to FBI hiring standards

Patel was asked about relaxing hiring standards at the agency -- leading to several questions clarifying the FBI's stance on sexual activity between a human and an animal.

During his opening statements, Patel promoted efforts under his leadership to put thousands of agents back into the field and open new field offices. The committee's top Democrat claimed Patel "has gutted hiring standards" as part of that effort.

Earlier this year, the FBI lifted a hiring ban on applicants who had engaged in prostitution and bestiality, saying it would consider the behavior in each case, especially in cases where the conduct occurred when the applicant was a victim.

Democratic senators accused Patel of lowering the standards to hire more FBI agents to include allowing people who engaged in prostitution and bestiality.

The day before Patel's hearing, Democrats sent him a letter asking about the changes to the FBI's automatic disqualification hiring standards.

"Having dangerously thinned the FBI’s experienced workforce for reasons that had nothing to do with performance, you are now asking the American people to accept, without explanation, that the resulting shortfall justifies admitting applicants with histories of employee theft, paying for sex, or bestiality," the Democrats wrote in the letter.

Calls for investigation into Russian oligarch involvement in Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebration

Patel said he did not know about the ProPublica report about a Russian oligarch tied to Vladimir Putin who helped pay for parts of Donald Trump Jr.'s wedding celebration.

Blumenthal questioned Patel about the report, asking whether the FBI was leading an "investigation of potential intelligence compromises."

Patel said he wasn't "sure what public reporting you are referring to," adding that "what the men and women of the FBI do in every case is look at whatever information comes our way and analyze it."

Blumenthal asked that Patel follow back up on any investigation.

"Clearly it is appropriate that you do so. I'm hoping that your staff or you will review immediately these public reports that have been available," Blumenthal added.

Tuesday marked Patel's first time testifying on Capitol Hill since he clashed with lawmakers more than four months ago over a report in The Atlantic about his job performance issues and drinking habits.

Patelsaid earlier this yearthat he's "never been intoxicated on the job," following the report. Patel sued The Atlantic over the article, demanding $250 million in damages.

Patel's time at the helm of the FBI has been marked by several controversies. Earlier this year, Patel joined in on Team USA hockey's locker room celebrations in Italy shortly after the team won the gold medal, which drew scrutiny about his use of FBI resources to attend. He was also grilled during a House hearing late last year about his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files.