FBI Director Kash Patel faced fierce criticism from House Democrats during Wednesday’s Judiciary Committee hearing. The confrontation centered on the FBI’s handling of evidence in the Jeffrey Epstein case. Patel defends FBI transparency while Democrats accused him of withholding critical information. He insisted that everything legally releasable had already been made public.
From the beginning, tension filled the hearing room. Rep. Jamie Raskin, D-Md., led the charge against Patel. “Why haven’t you released the names in Epstein’s ‘Black Book’?” Raskin asked. Patel calmly responded that all legally releasable material was already out. He explained that some content remained sealed due to legal restrictions or its abusive nature.
Still, Raskin appeared unsatisfied. He pressed Patel on whether the FBI had held back any other Epstein-related materials. Patel doubled down. “I will not break the law to satisfy political curiosity,” he declared. The next exchange came from Rep. Dan Goldman, D-N.Y., who launched a new line of questioning. He asked if former President Donald Trump appeared in any Epstein files.
Patel paused and asked Goldman to repeat the question. The congressman snapped, “It’s not complicated,” before asking again. Goldman then shifted to ask about possible photos or videos tied to Prince Andrew. He demanded to know why those files remained sealed. Patel dismissed the question as based on a “false premise.”
Goldman closed his time by stating, “You are hiding the Epstein files. You are part of the cover-up.” The accusation triggered Patel’s strongest reply yet. “Any claim that I’m covering up child trafficking is patently and categorically false,” Patel fired back.
Patel defends FBI transparency again as Republican lawmakers jumped to his defense. Committee Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, listed the information that Patel had already released since taking office. Jordan applauded the reforms under Patel’s leadership. He claimed those changes brought long-needed accountability to the bureau.
Despite this, Democrats continued pressing for full disclosure. They argued that public trust depends on full access to the Epstein investigation. Meanwhile, Patel maintained his stance. He said the FBI would release nothing that violates the law or protects criminal acts.
Patel defends FBI transparency not only on Epstein, but also on broader issues. He told lawmakers that political pressure would not dictate the FBI’s decisions. As the hearing ended, the divide between the parties remained sharp. One side accused Patel of protecting elites. The other praised him for restoring order to a troubled agency.
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