A tense showdown erupted on September 16, 2025, when Senator Cory Booker delivered a blistering rebuke to FBI Director Kash Patel during a high-stakes oversight hearing on Capitol Hill. In the now-viral exchange, Booker accused Patel of making America “weaker and less safe,” warning that the country was now more vulnerable to a major security event.
Booker didn’t hold back. Staring directly at Patel, he said:
“I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe… I think you’re not going to be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing. Donald Trump has shown us he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose.”
#TrumpKashPatel #KashPatelFired #KashPatelFBI #TrumpToFireKashPatel #KashPatelFiring #IsKashPatelFired #KashPatelNews #KashPatelLive #KashPatelSacked #KashPatelTruthFiles #KashPatelDonaldTrump #KashPatelAirForceOne #KashPatelUpdate #KashPatelControversy #KashPatelRumors
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Booker didn’t hold back. Staring directly at Patel, he said:
“I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe… I think you’re not going to be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing. Donald Trump has shown us he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose.”
#TrumpKashPatel #KashPatelFired #KashPatelFBI #TrumpToFireKashPatel #KashPatelFiring #IsKashPatelFired #KashPatelNews #KashPatelLive #KashPatelSacked #KashPatelTruthFiles #KashPatelDonaldTrump #KashPatelAirForceOne #KashPatelUpdate #KashPatelControversy #KashPatelRumors
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NewsTranscript
00:00So, you're saying that you had no discussions with the White House before you were in the position about the removal of any personnel from the agency?
00:09As I was preparing for my confirmation hearing, I had numerous discussions involving the type of people that would be employed and that those that were failing to meet the mark at the FBI would no longer be employed if I were confirmed.
00:21And I'm assuming that mark had to do with loyalty to the Trump administration?
00:25No, you're wrong.
00:26OK. I'd like to revisit another subject from that hearing.
00:30Did you did you testify? Excuse me. You did testify before the grand jury that President Trump had declassified the documents at issue in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case. Is that correct?
00:42I don't have the grand jury transcript. That's why I released it. Whatever it says is the best evidence.
00:46You know, that's what you said to Senator Whitehouse, that your grand jury testimony was publicly released.
00:50It has not been. In fact, in July, a court denied a news outlet's bid to get that transcript.
00:58But you said but the court said quite clearly that you are free to discuss your grand jury testify testimony.
01:06So I ask you again, did you testify before the grand jury that President Trump declassified the documents at issue in the Mar-a-Lago classified document case?
01:17And that is why I took your invitation to work with the department in the court to have that transcript released.
01:23And the transcript is the best evidence of what I said then.
01:26I want to start off where we left off last time.
01:29I asked you whether you had any knowledge or discussions about removing FBI officials and installing political personnel before you were confirmed to that position.
01:42And I wonder, did you then understand or have conversations with the Whitehouse about the intentions to do so?
01:50Before I was confirmed?
01:52Yes, sir.
01:53Did I have discussions with the Whitehouse to remove FBI personnel?
01:56Yes.
01:57No.
01:59So you're saying that you had no discussions with the Whitehouse before you were in the position about the removal of any personnel from the agency?
02:07As I was preparing for my confirmation hearing, I had numerous discussions involving the type of people that would be employed and that those that were failing to meet the mark at the FBI would no longer be employed if I were confirmed.
02:20And I'm assuming that mark had to do with loyalty to the Trump administration?
02:23No, you're wrong.
02:25Okay.
02:25I'd like to revisit another subject from that hearing.
02:28Did you testify, excuse me, you did testify before the grand jury that President Trump had declassified the documents at issue in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.
02:39Is that correct?
02:41I don't have the grand jury transcript.
02:42That's why I released it.
02:43Whatever it says is the best evidence.
02:44You know, that's what you said to Senator Whitehouse, that your grand jury testimony was publicly released.
02:49It has not been.
02:51In fact, in July, a court denied a news outlet's bid to get that transcript.
02:56But you said, but the court said quite clearly that you are free to discuss your grand jury testimony.
03:05So I ask you again, did you testify before the grand jury that President Trump declassified the documents at issue in the Mar-a-Lago classified document case?
03:16And that is why I took your invitation to work with the department and the court to have that transcript released.
03:21And the transcript is the best evidence of what I said then.
03:24So you're saying right now this committee can have access to what you said before the grand jury?
03:31To whatever was released.
03:32And it's my understanding, Senator, that the Department of Justice released.
03:35You and I both understand the law.
03:37Let me finish.
03:39You and I understand under Rule 6 of the Federal Rules of Procedure, a grand jury witness, in this case you,
03:44is not barred from sharing their grand jury testimony.
03:49This is an oversight hearing.
03:52This is germane to your integrity and credibility.
03:55You know right now whether or not you testified that President Trump declassified the documents at issue in the Mar-a-Lago classified documents case.
04:05Why are you refusing to answer that simple yes or no question right now?
04:12Because the premise of your question is inaccurate and that is why.
04:16There is no premise to my question but trying to get to an order of what is truth or not.
04:21How do you know what was asked in the grand jury if you weren't there?
04:25Mr. Patel, this is a mockery you're making of this hearing and simple questions.
04:30It's a simple question.
04:31If you have a transcript, you can read the question but you don't have it.
04:35You promised that, quote, all FBI employees will be protected against political retribution.
04:41When I asked you, are you aware of any plans or discussions to punish in any way, including termination,
04:48FBI agents or personnel associated with the Trump administration,
04:50you explicitly said under oath that you were not aware of any plans to punish FBI agents associated with criminal investigations of Donald Trump.
04:59I don't believe you were truthful.
05:01Firing FBI employees based solely on the cases that they are investigating, their case assignments, is illegal and you know that.
05:09A new lawsuit that's been discussed numerous times filed by three FBI officials
05:14alleges that you carried out Donald Trump's campaign of retribution, in quotes,
05:19against FBI employees for, quote, failure to demonstrate sufficient political loyalty.
05:25One of those plaintiffs has been discussed today, Brian Driscoll.
05:29Now, we know 20 years of distinguished service to the FBI before you terminated him.
05:34Special agent in charge of FBI's Newark field office where he operated with distinction.
05:39Medal of valor winner.
05:40Shield of bravery awards.
05:42He's a patriot.
05:43You terminated Driscoll via a letter dated October 8th, 2025.
05:48And in that letter, you said that you were firing him pursuant to Article 2 of the Constitution.
05:53Well, you're not the president of the United States.
05:56And so I'm wondering under what authority you were allowed to terminate him.
06:01That matter is under litigation and I'm not able to discuss it.
06:04Okay, we'll discuss this.
06:06Did you have discussions with Stephen Miller about firing this particular person or about his continuance in the FBI?
06:16Not that I recall.
06:18How often do you speak to Stephen Miller?
06:21Frequently on our Homeland Security Task Forces.
06:24You frequently talk with Stephen Miller about subjects other than Homeland Security Task Force issues, correct?
06:29I frequently talk to Mr. Miller about Homeland Security Task Forces.
06:37Has Stephen Miller ever given you his opinions on how to run your agency?
06:42Mr. Miller's interagency operations are invaluable to the FBI.
06:46That's what we talk about.
06:47So you frequently discuss your job and your responsibilities with Stephen Miller and Pam Bondi, I imagine, as well.
06:53Absolutely.
06:54She's the attorney general.
06:55Understood.
06:56Okay.
06:57Donald Trump promised to make us all safer.
07:00You have pushed out senior FBI agents with decades of knowledge and experience.
07:05In fact, this is the first time in FBI history that neither the director nor the deputy director have any experience with the FBI.
07:11You've shifted the agency's priorities primarily to pursuing Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda.
07:19According to ICE data, the Cato Institute, which is a conservative think tank, found that 20% of all agents have been diverted from their work to do assist ICE immigration enforcement.
07:3220%.
07:33Part of this operation is the work of mass law enforcement who jump out of cars, snatch people off streets at churches, schools, and their jobs in hospitals.
07:44Have there been any FBI agents who investigate crimes against children that have been assigned to immigration enforcement, yes or no?
07:54The premise of what you say is entirely false.
07:57Any FBI agents who investigate foreign domestic terrorism.
08:00You don't get to say that America is not safer under this leadership.
08:03I am not saying that.
08:04America is safer because of the work of the FBI are doing.
08:07You're making a presumption of premise.
08:08You're making a presumption of premise.
08:094,700 children.
08:10Sir, you have.
08:11We have seized 6,000 weapons and 23,000 violent felons have been arrested.
08:15You are not denying that FBI agents who investigate human trafficking have been reassigned to immigration enforcement.
08:20You are not denying that FBI agents who are on the task force that fight against Russian oligarchs have not been reassigned.
08:26Public Correction Squad, reassigned.
08:28People who defend us, defend children, reassigned.
08:32You're not denying that.
08:34FBI agents don't get reassigned.
08:36I've seen you time and time again attack my colleagues' premises of questions as a way to not answer the questions.
08:41So let me end with this.
08:43I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe.
08:47I believe that we are more vulnerable to a major event, and I pray to God it doesn't happen.
08:52You've gutted the Bureau of Institutional Knowledge and Expertise.
08:55You fired or pushed out seasoned FBI officials, many with more than 20 years of experience, and were working on cases that were critical.
09:05You've been purging thousands of serious law enforcement officials who spent their careers keeping us safe only to lower hiring standards in order to find anyone to replace them.
09:16And shockingly, you admitted in this hearing to Senator Coons that it would take 14 years to fill the vacancies at your agency.
09:25Many are the result of your purge.
09:2720% of FBI agents are doing low-level immigration enforcement instead of their mission-critical work.
09:34You've disbanded entire task forces that stop election interference, foreign influence, public corruption.
09:42And who benefits from this?
09:43Well, corrupt people benefit from it.
09:45Criminals benefit from it.
09:47Vladimir Putin benefits from it.
09:49And it really makes me wonder who you're looking out for.
09:52It makes me think we can't trust you as a nation.
09:55You swear to release the Epstein files, but now you're withholding the Epstein files.
10:01You claim that you have a suspect in a serious assassination.
10:05Whoops.
10:05Then you don't have a suspect.
10:07You know nothing about plans to remove FBI agents yet.
10:11You're directly involved in those plans.
10:14In the words of an ex-FBI official, you are overseeing, and I quote,
10:18generational destruction of the nation's premier law enforcement agency.
10:23Mr. Patel, in just eight months, you have assaulted the institutional integrity of the FBI.
10:28But I know FBI field agents.
10:30I've worked with them in Newark.
10:32No matter how truly bad you are, you can't undermine the legacy of agents who fight every day to keep us safe,
10:39but you can tarnish the integrity of the agency and undermine the agency's capacity.
10:45I believe you're failing as a leader,
10:47and that your failure does have serious implications for the safety and security of Americans and our families.
10:54We're more vulnerable to domestic and foreign attack because of your failures of leadership.
10:58I don't think you're fitting in the Bureau.
11:00But here's the thing, Mr. Patel.
11:02I think you're not going to be around long.
11:05I think this might be your last oversight hearing.
11:07Because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the Constitution of the United States of America,
11:14Donald Trump has shown us in his first term and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you.
11:20He will cut you loose.
11:22This may be the last time I have a hearing with you because I don't think you're long for your job.
11:27But I'm going to tell you this.
11:29I pray for you.
11:30I pray for you that you can step up and defend your oath, defend the Constitution,
11:36and do a much better job of defending this country.
11:40Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
11:41Do you want to say anything?
11:44Yes, sir.
11:46That rant of false information does not bring this country together.
11:53If you want to work on bringing this country, it's my time, not yours.
11:56My God, my God.
11:57If you want to talk about biding this country, I follow you on your social media posts that tear this country apart.
12:05It is my time to address your falsehoods.
12:07You are an embarrassment to the division in this country.
12:10To not take responsibility for what you have said.
12:14Sir, you're making a mockery of this committee.
12:16Sir, you don't tell me my time is over.
12:18The people of New Jersey tell me what my time is.
12:20You can't lecture me.
12:22You can tell me my time is over.
12:23You may be the charge of the FBI, but I am not afraid of you.
12:27Mr. Chairman.
12:28I'm not afraid of you.
12:29Mr. Chairman, point of order.
12:31Senator Booker, I announced at the beginning of this meeting that this back and forth talking over each other doesn't work.
12:38And I said if that happened, I asked Patel not to respond.
12:43And I was going to give him some time after the senator's time was up to respond.
12:48And that's he has the privilege to do that uninterrupted.
12:53Mr. Chairman, one point of order.
12:54Go ahead, Mr. Patel.
12:54I've watched him talk over us and you've never once criticized him for us not even being able to get our questions out.
13:00He has been rude and disrespectful to senator after senator.
13:04And when the senators were not giving him a chance to answer, I didn't stop the senator either.
13:11Go ahead, Senator.
13:12Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
13:14If the FBI, under my seven-month leadership, were failing this administration in this country, why do we have 23,000 violent felons arrested this year alone?
13:23A 20, 200, excuse me, a double increase from that time last year.
13:28Why is it that we have seized 6,000 weapons?
13:30Why have we found 1,500 child predators and arrest them?
13:33Why have we have 300 human traffickers in jail?
13:36Why have we found and identified 4,700 children?
13:39Why have we seized 1,600 kilograms of fentanyl, enough to kill a third of the American public, a 25% increase alone from last year?
13:4888,000 kilograms of cocaine seized.
13:501,700 kilograms of meth seized.
13:53And that's just on our criminal operations in summer heat.
13:55How is it possible that we are taking 8 kilograms off the streets of the cities in New Jersey and preventing the deaths of 607,000 people this year alone?
14:04A failure of the FBI and my leadership.
14:06How is it that we have counterintelligence arrests already this year exceeding the numbers from the entirety of last year?
14:1233% increase in PRC, 83% in Russia, 60% in the CI space as it relates to Iran.
14:19And we haven't even talked about CT, the southern border, the northern border.
14:22Before, Senator Cruz, I kind of feel like a broken record today.
14:26All this interest in FBI termination, yet my colleagues showed no intent or interest in when I, my whistleblower suffered retaliation over the past years, particularly the past four years.
14:41Indeed, one whistleblower has alleged that Brian Driscoll's insubordination, whether an agent is on a hot-button case or not, they ought to be held accountable for misconduct and weaponization.
14:58Senator Cruz.
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