Patel ‘sparked mass confusion’ over Charlie Kirk shooting suspect, says Durbin

Durbin says Patel “sparked mass confusion” by announcing too early that the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk had been caught.

“At critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let professionals do their job,” says Durbin.

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Durbin calls for the temperature to be brought down amid rising political violence and highlights that there are victims on both sides.

SharePatel ‘sparked mass confusion’ over Charlie Kirk shooting suspect, says Durbin

Durbin says Patel “sparked mass confusion” by announcing too early that the suspect in the shooting of Charlie Kirk had been caught.

“At critical stages of an investigation, shut up and let professionals do their job,” says Durbin.

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Durbin criticises Patel’s diversion of personnel from critical missions to reviewing thousands of pages of Jeffrey Epstein-related records and to flag anywhere Donald Trump was mentioned – to find that there was no client list.

Durbin says a letter he sent to Patel asking about his role “in this cover up” has gone unanswered.

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Durbin says Patel “had no training or life experience for this position” adding “the result of that incompetence is staggering”.

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The exodus of some 5,000 career civil servants has caused “brain drain” at the FBI, says Durbin, with many remaining civil servants diverted from their work in national security to the administration’s mass deportation agenda.

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Durbin also notes reports of “loyalty tests” including use of polygraphs under Patel.

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Durbin also notes Patel’s installation of “Maga loyalists as political appointees in key career positions, including conspiracy theorist Dan Bongino as deputy FBI director, the first time in history that this position has not been filled by an FBI agent”.

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Durbin highlights the “unprecedented purge of public officials” at the bureau.

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Patel has “already inflicted untold damage on the FBI”, says Durbin, “putting our national security and public safety at risk”.

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Durbin highlights Patel’s false claim that “the FBI was planning January 6 for a year” and his “enemies list” of public servants.

SharePatel ‘most partisan FBI director ever’, says Durbin

Democratic senator Dick Durbin has just called Kash Patel “arguably the most partisan FBI director ever” and said “he came to the FBI with a political mission” and “attacked the FBI with a vengeance”.

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If you’d like to follow Patel’s hearing, there is a feed at the top of the blog.

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