Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA) got into a fiery exchange with Kash Patel, the far-right former House staffer and Trump administration loyalist now nominated to serve as Trump's FBI director, after pointing out that Patel bragged about his role in recording the so-called "January 6 Choir" from the Washington, D.C. jail.
Its members included people involved in assault on police at the Capitol, and their song became a political rallying cry for Trump and his supporters.
Trump ultimately went on to issue a blanket pardon of almost everyone at the attack, including the members of the choir.
Patel sought to deny his involvement in the recording of the choir — but Schiff brought receipts.
"Here's what you told Steve Bannon on his podcast: 'So what we thought would be cool is if we captured that audio, and then, of course, had the greatest president, President Donald J. Trump, recite the Pledge of Allegiance. Then we went to a studio and recorded it, mastered it, digitized it, and put it out as a song now releasing exclusively on The War Room. We, we, we. If you had nothing to do with it, Mr. Patel, why did you tell Steve Bannon and all his listeners that you did?"
"That's why it says 'we,' as you highlighted," said Patel.
"Yeah, and you're part of the 'we,' right? When you say 'we,' that includes you, doesn't it, Mr. Patel?" said Schiff. "So when you said, 'we,' you didn't really mean you? Is that your testimony?"
Schiff then directed Patel to look at Capitol police in the room. "I want you to look them in the eye, Mr. Patel, and tell them you're proud of what you did. Tell them you're proud that you raised money off of people that assaulted their colleagues, that pepper sprayed them, that beat them with poles. Tell them you're proud of what you did, Mr. Patel. They're right there! They're guarding you today! Tell them how proud you are."
"That's an abject lie, and you know it," said Patel. "I've never, never, ever accepted violence against law enforcement. I've worked with these men and women, as you know."
"Oh, no, no, you didn't accept it, you glorified it in song, Mr. Patel!" cut in Schiff.
