Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin and FBI Director nominee Kash Patel (AP/Reuters)
"I have always advocated for imprisoning those that cause harm to our law enforcement and civilian communities. I also believe America is not safer because President Biden's commutation of a man who murdered two FBI agents. Agent Coler and Williams family deserve better than to have the man that point blank range fired a shotgun into their heads and murdered them, released from prison. So it goes both ways."
Durbin responded by downplaying the comparison between Peltier and January 6 rioters.
MAJOR FBI CHANGES KASH PATEL COULD MAKE ON DAY 1 IF CONFIRMED AS DIRECTOR
Kash Patel speaks during a campaign event for Republican election candidates. (Brandon Bell/Getty Images)
Conservatives and supporters of Patel on social media praised Patel for his response.
"Brutal reality check," political commentator and Confirm 47 executive director Camryn Kinsey posted on X.
In his opening remarks, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said, "Public trust in the FBI is low."
"Only 41% of the American public thinks the FBI is doing a good job. This is the lowest rating in a century," he continued.
Grassley touted Patel's experience as a public defender and at the Justice Department, as well as his involvement in the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence in 2017 to investigate the origins of the Trump-Russia probe.
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Patel has "managed large intelligence and defense bureaucracies, identified and countered national security threats, prosecuted and defended criminals," Grassley said. "He has done this while fighting for transparency and accountability in the government," giving him "precisely the qualifications we need at this time" to head up the bureau.
Patel's nomination has sparked early criticism from some Democrats ahead of his confirmation hearing, who have cited his previous vows to prosecute journalists and career officials at the Justice Department and FBI that he sees as being part of the "deep state."
Fox News Digital's Breanne Deppisch contributed to this report
Andrew Mark Miller is a reporter at Fox News. Find him on Twitter @andymarkmiller and email tips to AndrewMark.Miller@Fox.com.
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kash-patel-flips-script-dem-senator-with-after-being-grilled-j6-pardons-brutal-reality-check