Kash Patel distances himself from Trump's Jan. 6 pardons at FBI director confirmation hearing
WASHINGTON — Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee for a 10-year term as director of the FBI, distanced himself Thursday from Trump’s sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 rioters, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee he didn’t think violent rioters who assaulted law enforcement deserved a break.
WASHINGTON — Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee for a 10-year term as director of the FBI, distanced himself Thursday from Trump’s sweeping pardon of Jan. 6 rioters, telling the Senate Judiciary Committee he didn’t think violent rioters who assaulted law enforcement deserved a break.
"I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement, and I have included in that group specifically addressed any violence against law enforcement on Jan. 6," Patel said at his confirmation hearing. "I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement."
Patel's comments highlighted a fissure within the Republican Party, and even within Trump's own administration, over Trump's decision to pardon virtually all Jan. 6 defendants except a handful whose sentences were commuted. Those getting pardons included people who assaulted officers and those who were armed with firearms, stun guns, flagpoles, batons, bear spray and much more.
Sen. Thom Tillis, R-N.C., said at the hearing that he disagreed with Trump's pardons of violent Jan. 6 rioters and that he had been telling officers he encountered at security entrances around the Capitol the same.
“I’ve been thanking these Capitol Police officers, and I told them I thought, I actually thought that the pardons of people who did harm to police officers sucked," Tillis said. “I respectfully disagree with the president or whoever likely gave him advice."
Rating: 5