Senator Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) stated on Sunday that Democrats, including California Senator Adam Schiff, are deeply concerned about the prospect of Kash Patel leading the FBI, as he possesses knowledge about their alleged involvement in the Russia collusion narrative.
During an interview on Fox & Friends, Blackburn asserted that Patel’s understanding of past political maneuvers has made him a target for opposition.
“I think, too, they are very fearful of Kash Patel, because Kash Patel knows what Adam Schiff and some of the others did with Russia collusion, and they know that he knows—the dirt on them, if you will,” Blackburn remarked. “And I think they’re fearful of what he’s going to do and what he’s going to reveal.”
She further emphasized that Patel’s commitment to exposing political corruption and increasing transparency in Washington has only intensified these concerns.
Blackburn also addressed the issue in remarks to the Senate Judiciary Committee following Patel’s confirmation hearings. She highlighted what she described as visible frustration from Democrats over his nomination.
“As I’ve listened to my Democratic colleagues in their comments this morning, you can hear the anger and the displeasure with having Kash Patel before us,” she noted. “But I think it’s important to realize why Kash Patel is there and why President Trump chose to nominate Kash Patel.”
According to Blackburn, Patel’s appointment reflects broader public frustration over what she described as a two-tiered system of justice under the Biden administration, particularly in the actions of the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI.
“The American people are sick and tired of two tiers of access, two tiers of treatment, and two tiers of justice,” she continued. “And during the Biden years, this was writ large in the actions of the DOJ and the FBI. We have all seen it.”
She recalled directly questioning Patel during his hearing about why Democrats appear to fear him, and she provided her own explanation.
“They fear him because, yes, indeed, he is out of the box. They fear him because of what he knows about Russia collusion, what he knows about some of the activity that has taken place,” she charged.
Additionally, Blackburn praised Patel’s vision for the FBI, saying that his leadership would return the bureau to its original mission of combating violent crime and ensuring national security.
“They fear him because he is going to return the FBI to its core mission, investigating violent crimes and keeping our nation safe,” Blackburn stated. “Now, I’m pleased that he’s going to focus on violent crime. We know that, under President Trump, violent crime was down 17 percent.”
Beyond national security, Patel also pledged to help Blackburn in her ongoing efforts to uncover details related to Jeffrey Epstein’s case, particularly concerning his client list and those involved in his international sex trafficking network.
During Patel’s hearing, Blackburn questioned him on how he would approach the Epstein investigation, noting her long-standing efforts to gain access to flight records and other critical information related to the case.
“I have worked on this for years, trying to get those records of who flew on Epstein’s plane and who helped him build this international human trafficking and sex trafficking ring,” she explained.
Blackburn expressed frustration with past roadblocks, saying that despite her urging, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and FBI Director Christopher Wray resisted issuing subpoenas for Epstein’s records.
“Now, earlier, I urged then-Chairman Durbin to subpoena those records, and I ended up being blocked by Senator Durbin and Christopher Wray. They stonewalled on this,” she said.
She pressed Patel on whether he would work with her to fully expose the extent of Epstein’s operations and those who were complicit.
“So will you work with me on this issue? So we know who worked with Jeffrey Epstein in building these sex trafficking rings?” she asked.
Patel assured her of his commitment to uncovering the truth.
“Absolutely, Senator,” he responded. “Child sex trafficking has no place in the United States of America. And I will do everything, if confirmed as FBI director, to make sure the American public knows the full weight of what happened in the past and how we are going to counterman missing children and exploited children going forward.”
Patel’s nomination has become a focal point of partisan debate, with Republicans viewing him as a reformer determined to restore accountability within the FBI, while Democrats remain skeptical of his approach and prior affiliations with former President Donald Trump.
With Patel’s confirmation process underway, the tension surrounding his nomination is expected to intensify, particularly as questions about past investigations, FBI oversight, and political accountability continue to dominate discussions on Capitol Hill.
