Touched parents' feet, praised Hindu deity: 5 highlights from Kash Patel's FBI nomination hearing
5. Senator plays 'Would you rather' game, talks attacks on traditional Catholics
In another exchange, Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., shared his own experiences as the former Missouri attorney general with what he described as the weaponization of law enforcement.
To set up his questions, Schmitt said he would play a game of “Would you rather?” which led to chuckles from the Patel and the audience.
“Let’s have at it, sir,” Patel said.
Sen. Eric Schmitt plays a game of "Would You Rather?" with Kash Patel during his confirmation hearing. @Eric_Schmitt: "Would you rather target traditional Catholics as extremists, or focus on investigating actual threats posed to American people by cartels?" pic.twitter.com/SYybMzlw1p
— Melissa Barnhart (@MelBarnhart) January 31, 2025
In his first of a series of questions, Schmitt asked: “Would you rather the FBI prosecute and persecute parents who voice legitimate concerns at school board meetings, or should it investigate domestic terrorists who commit school shootings and threaten the lives of American children?”
To which Patel replied, “Absolutely investigate and prioritize the safety of our children, any real domestic terrorists, as I’ve prosecuted in my past in the Obama Justice Department.”
“Would you rather the FBI be weaponized by investigating presidential candidates, political opponents, spying on and wire-tapping candidates’ advisors, or should the FBI get back to its core mission and get politics out of the FBI?” Schmitt asked.
Patel replied: "There should be no politics in the FBI. Having been a victim of the weaponization of law enforcement against me, I know what that feels like. I will make sure no American feels that sleight of hand ever again."
Schmitt also asked, “Would you rather target traditional Catholics as extremists, or should the FBI focus on investigating actual threats posed to American people by cartels pumping fentanyl into our communities through the southern border?”
“One hundred thousand deaths due to fentanyl and drug overdoses in one year,” Patel said. “I’d rather the FBI focus on that and save our children.”
