Patel and Schiff Get Into Shouting Match as Hearing Veers Off the Rails

Judiciary Committee Chair Chuck Grassley attempted to stop the fight by banging his gavel and yelling, “Both of you be quiet!”

FBI Director Kash Patel speaks before the Senate Judiciary Committee

Julia Demaree Nikhinson/AP

FBI Director Kash Patel’s Senate hearing on Tuesday was dominated by several shouting matches with Senate Democrats, including tense back-and-forths with Sens. Adam Schiff and Cory Booker.

The tiff with Schiff began when the California Democrat asked Patel why convicted Jeffrey Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a lower-security prison after meeting with the Justice Department in early August. In a follow-up question, Schiff asked Patel whether he thought the American public was “stupid” enough to believe that the Bureau of Prisons decided alone to move Maxwell, independent of political pressure.

“What I am doing is protecting this country … and combating the weaponization of intelligence by the likes of you,” Patel replied, interrupting Schiff. “We have countlessly proven you to be a liar in Russiagate, in Jan. 6. You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate.”