The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday accused FBI director nominee Kash Patel of acting behind the scenes to direct a “purge” of career officials at the agency, adding to what he called “myriad red flags” about Patel ahead of a panel vote set for Thursday. Sen. Richard J. Durbin of Illinois outlined the allegations in a Senate floor speech and a letter to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz that calls for an investigation into the “highly credible information from multiple sources.” Durbin did not identify his sources or divulge how the allegations came his way. “I hope that what I reveal today from credible whistleblowers at the highest levels will give my Republican colleagues some pause before it’s too late,” Durbin said on the floor. Democrats have raised a bevy of concerns about the nomination of Patel, a former campaign surrogate for President Donald Trump who has a long track record of incendiary commentary. But Democrats remain powerless to block his confirmation without help from Republicans, who have a 53-seat majority in the Senate. Durbin, in the letter to Horowitz, wrote that it’s his understanding that Patel’s “directives” are being “carried out through the concerted efforts” of Trump administration official Stephen Miller, acting Deputy Attorney General Emil Bove and several members of the FBI director’s advisory team. “It is unacceptable for a nominee with no legal or current role in government to personally direct the unjustified and potentially illegal firings of dedicated, nonpartisan professionals at the FBI,” Durbin said. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for a comment. A spokesperson for Horowitz’s office declined to comment. Judiciary Chairman Charles E. Grassley, R-Iowa, panned the allegations as “nothing more than hearsay,” commenting on social media that they don’t “hold a candle” to Patel’s character and credibility. “Another day another attack against Kash Patel by the Democrats,” Grassley wrote. Durbin, in the floor speech, said he asked Horowitz to investigate the claims given the nature of the allegations and the need to protect the identities of his sources. “I believe they’re true,” Durbin said of the allegations. “Let the inspector general make his own conclusion.” Durbin wrote there was a Jan. 29 meeting between FBI and Justice Department leadership in which Bove told attendees “that he received multiple calls from Stephen Miller the night before,” according to the letter. “Mr. Miller was pressuring him because Mr. Patel wanted the FBI to remove targeted employees faster, as DOJ had already done with prosecutors,” according to Durbin’s letter. “Contemporaneous notes from that morning meeting read: ‘KP wants movement at FBI, reciprocal actions for DOJ,’” the letter stated. In a memorandum issued Jan. 31 to the acting head of the FBI, Bove directed seven FBI employees to be terminated by Feb. 3 if they had not retired beforehand. A copy of the memorandum has been released by Virginia Democratic Sen. Mark Warner. On the list of seven names was Robert Wells, who last year was named executive assistant director of the National Security Branch at FBI headquarters. Another was Michael Nordwall, who was named executive assistant director of the Criminal, Cyber, Response, and Services Branch at FBI headquarters last year. Durbin, citing unnamed sources, said in the letter that Patel is getting information from within the agency from a member of the director’s advisory team. During his confirmation hearing last month, Patel said he would focus on combating violent crime and cooperating with congressional oversight if confirmed as the next FBI director. Republicans on the panel have lauded Patel’s nomination, pointing to his experience as a former prosecutor and his time in the first Trump administration, when he worked at the National Security Council and briefly served as chief of staff to the secretary of Defense. Republicans also sought to defend Trump’s pick, with Grassley saying Patel’s career “has been a study in fighting unpopular but righteous causes, exposing corruption and putting America first.”Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, said Patel has been “nothing but a patriot.” “Your commitment to the Constitution, to the rule of law and to the American people is remarkable,” Lee said. “And I’m honored to know you, to call you my friend and to give you my vote.” But Democrats say he is boldly unfit to lead the FBI, and the lawmakers have raised a litany of deep concerns with his nomination, including arguments that he has a steadfast loyalty to Trump and would harm the FBI’s noted independence from the White House. Democrats have also slammed Patel for past comments he’s made about those arrested for the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol and commentary in a book he authored. The book includes a list of 60 people he has deemed members of the “Executive Branch Deep State” that critics have dubbed an enemies list. “Kash Patel has no business being the director of the FBI,” Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., said during a news conference last week. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., said the FBI has performed at its best when it honors the Constitution and “respects the rule of law.” “Clearly, Kash Patel puts that secondary to his loyalty to Donald Trump,” Padilla said at the news conference.
