Tensions erupted on Capitol Hill On 17 Sept 2025 as FBI Director Kash Patel and Rep. Eric Swalwell clashed in a fiery House Judiciary Committee hearing over Jeffrey Epstein’s grand jury files. Swalwell pressed Patel on any mentions of Donald Trump in the files, while Patel fired back with sharp accusations, calling Swalwell’s questions baseless and “disgusting.” The heated exchange also touched on Patel’s book Government Gangsters, DOJ transparency, and the handling of Epstein’s and Ghislaine Maxwell’s cases, highlighting the partisan and legal controversies surrounding the infamous files.
00:02We have not released anyone's name in the Epstein files that has not been credible.
00:09We have released every piece of legally permissible information.
00:13Is it at least 500 times?
00:14No.
00:15Is it at least 100 times?
00:16No.
00:16Then what's the number?
00:18I don't know the number, but it's not that.
00:19Do you think it might be your job to know the number?
00:22My job is to provide for the safety and security of this country.
00:25If Trump and the president are being underserved by your representation.
00:27If the president is not implicated, why not release everything that involves crime?
00:30We have released everything.
00:32The question is simple.
00:34Did you tell the attorney general that Donald Trump's name is in the Epstein files?
00:40Yes or no?
00:40Why don't you try spelling it out?
00:41Yes or no, director.
00:43Use the alphabet.
00:44Yes or no?
00:44No?
00:45ABC?
00:46Director, did you...
00:47Why don't you try serving your constituency by focusing on reducing violent crime in this country
00:52and the number of pedophiles that are legally harbored in your sanctuary cities in California?
00:57I'll work with you on that.
00:59Do you want to work with us on that?
01:00Did you tell the attorney general that Donald Trump's name is in the Epstein files?
01:04The question has been asked and answered.
01:05Anyone that has been terminated at the FBI has been done so.
01:08No, no, the question again...
01:08Because they failed to meet the muster in their constitutional obligation.
01:11I will work on the audiovisual capabilities.
01:13I'm going to borrow your terminology and call bullshit on your entire career in Congress.
01:17I'm reclaiming my time, director.
01:18It has been a disgrace to the American people.
01:20Director, I'm reclaiming my time.
01:20You can reclaim your time all you want.
01:22Mr. Chairman, are you going to allow a witness to speak this way?
01:25Director, the first time you saw Donald Trump's name was in the Epstein files.
01:29Did you close the files or keep reading?
01:34I have reviewed not the entirety of the files.
01:37So you haven't reviewed all of the Epstein files?
01:41Personally, no.
01:41You're the director of the FBI.
01:43This is the largest sex trafficking case the FBI has ever been a part of.
01:48Buck stops at the top.
01:49And your testimony today is you have not reviewed all the files.
01:52What I've been doing is been busy providing the safest country this country has seen in modern U.S. history in historic speed
01:59because the men and women of the FBI are given the resources to reduce the homicide rate,
02:02to reduce the drug trafficking rate, to reduce the amount of children that are being trafficked.
02:07Well, it sounds like those children being trafficked would appreciate the director reviewing the files.
02:11You said you don't know the number of times Trump's name appears in the files, so it could at least be 1,000 times.
02:18Is that right?
02:19The number is a total misleading factor.
02:22We have not released anyone's name in the Epstein files that has not been credible.
02:28Director, could it at least be 1,000 times?
02:30We have released every piece of legally permissible information.
02:33Okay.
02:33You can characterize the numbers however you want it.
02:35You claim in my time, Director.
02:37It sounds like if you don't know the number, it could at least be 1,000 times.
02:41It's not.
02:42It's not.
02:43Is it at least 500 times?
02:44No.
02:44Is it at least 100 times?
02:45No.
02:46Then what's the number?
02:47I don't know the number, but it's not that.
02:48Do you think it might be your job to know the number?
02:51My job is to provide for the safety and security of this country.
02:54My job is not to engage in political innuendo so you can go out to the sticks and get your 20-second hit in your fundraising article.
03:01So reclaiming my time, Director.
03:02Keep going, reclaiming your time, because the people of California are being underserved by your representation.
03:07If the president is not implicated, why not release everything that involves...
03:10We have released everything, the president and anyone else's side, that is credible and lawfully be able to be released.
03:17Your fixation on this matter and baseless accusations that I'm hiding, child pedophiles, is disgusting.
03:24Anyone that says that needs to look at the stats alone.
03:26And go back to the state of California, who's receiving the biggest surge in FBI resources through my redeployment, because the cities of Los Angeles, San Diego, and San Francisco need it.
03:35Anyway, my time, Director, remembering your oath to tell the truth, did you ever tell Donald Trump his name is in the files?
03:42I have never spoken to President Trump about the Epstein files.
03:46Did you ever tell the Attorney General that Donald Trump's name is in the Epstein files?
03:51The Attorney General and I have had numerous discussions about the entirety of the Epstein files and the reviews conducted by our teams.
03:56Did you tell the Attorney General that Donald Trump's name is in the Epstein files?
03:59And we have released where President Trump's name is in the Epstein files.
04:02It's a simple question.
04:02Did you tell the Attorney General that the President's name is in the Epstein files?
04:06During many conversations that the Attorney General and I have had on the matter of Epstein, we have reviewed.
04:12The question is simple.
04:13Who can be?
04:14Did you tell the Attorney General that Donald Trump's name is in the Epstein files?
04:20Yes or no?
04:20Why don't you try spelling it out?
04:21Yes or no, Director.
04:23Use the alphabet.
04:23Yes or no?
04:24No?
04:25A, B, C, E, F?
04:26Director, it sounds like you don't want to tell us.
04:28Did you tell the Attorney General that Donald Trump's name was in the Epstein files?
04:31Why don't you try serving your constituency by focusing on reducing violent crime in this country and the number of pedophiles that are legally harbored in your sanctuary cities in California?
04:42I'll work with you on that.
04:44Do you want to work with us on that?
04:45I'm the honest gentleman from California.
04:47Did you tell the Attorney General that Donald Trump's name is in the Epstein files?
04:51The question has been asked and answered.
04:52You have not answered it, and we will take your evasiveness as a consciousness of guilt.
04:57Director, did Donald Trump ever say to you, just find and release the entire truth?
05:03Don't worry if I'm in it.
05:04The instructions from the administration were to release all credible information, and we have done that.
05:09Did Donald Trump ever provide information about Jeffrey Epstein as an informant?
05:14Donald Trump has not been, and I can only speak for the FBI, an informant of the FBI.
05:18So, Director, you've played this cute shell game where you say you can't release everything because the court has said that it legally is not allowed to be released.
05:27But the court calls bullshit.
05:29Judge Richard Berman said that when you went to the court, quote,
05:33information contained in the Epstein grand jury transcripts pales, pales, in comparison to Epstein investigation information and materials in the hands of the Department of Justice.
05:47So, let's move on, Director.
05:48You wrote a book called Government Gangsters.
05:50You identified 20 individuals in that book.
05:53You put me on that list at the top of the list.
05:56My children find it flattering.
05:57Twenty of those individuals have been investigated or have had adverse actions.
06:03Director, considering that you have identified these people as, quote, government gangsters, will you recuse yourself from making any investigation decisions about these individuals?
06:13Anyone that has been terminated at the FBI has been done so.
06:15No, no, the question again.
06:16Because they failed to meet the muster in their constitutional obligation.
06:18Director, I will work on the audiovisual capabilities.
06:21I'm going to borrow your terminology and call bullshit on your entire career in Congress.
06:25It has been a disgrace to the American people.
06:27Director, I'm reclaiming my time.
06:28You can reclaim your time all you want.
06:30Mr. Chairman, are you going to allow a witness to speak this way?
06:33Mr. Chairman, would you recuse yourself, Director?
06:35The gentleman has no time.
06:36Mr. Chairman, would you admonish the witness not to insult members?
06:40The gentleman has no time.
06:41Mr. Chairman, just a quick point of order.
06:44Could the gentleman be extended an additional 20 seconds to complete his thoughts since the witness decided to interrupt him continuously?
06:50And the witness will be able to respond if he wants.
06:52We'll make sure it has time to do that.
06:54My question is, will you, Director, recuse yourself, yes or no, from investigating or making decisions about the 60 individuals, including myself, that you identified as government gangsters?
07:05Yes or no?
07:05Time of the gentleman has expired.
07:07The witness may respond if he would like.
07:09And the answer was no, as I heard.
07:12Subscribe to One India and never miss an update.
Be the first to comment