FBI Director Kash Patel is facing mounting scrutiny over his handling of Epstein files during two days of Capitol Hill hearings. Democrats accused Patel of withholding full details of the investigation, protecting President Trump from potentially incriminating information, and neglecting Epstein’s victims. Patel defended his actions, citing legal constraints and court orders, and claimed that the Trump administration had disclosed more files than previous administrations.
The hearings have sparked intense exchanges with Democratic lawmakers, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, Sen. Cory Booker, and others, with Patel appearing unbothered by the criticism. Patel openly feuded with Democratic senators and representatives, including Rep. Eric Swalwell, and he was unbothered by the verbal sparring. In one heated exchange, Patel said he would not recuse himself from any investigations into 60 people he once labeled “government gangsters,” including Swalwell.
Patel also faced questions from Republicans on the Epstein issue. Rep. Thomas Massie joined Democrats in pressing Patel to release witness interview summaries during the House Judiciary hearing. Sen. John Kennedy urged the FBI to move to release Epstein-related records. Despite the bipartisan pressure, the FBI director insisted that the agency was releasing as many files as possible but was limited by legal constraints. The issue has put all of Trump’s allies in an uncomfortable position, caught between their promises of transparency and the realities of operating a sprawling law enforcement agency.
Democrats also pressed Patel over his own reversal on the issue, as well as the bureau’s ongoing efforts to both disclose Epstein-related documents and continue its investigation into his sex trafficking ring. Pressed by Rep. Jared Moskowitz, Patel said he would consider opening an investigation into the Epstein estate over Trump’s claim that a suggestive letter in Epstein’s 50th-birthday book was forged. “Sure, I’ll do it,” Patel said.