'Fog of war': GOP senators excuse Kash Patel's FBI bungles in Charlie Kirk case

WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel was back on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, for a second straight day of grilling by unfriendly Democrats.

In the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk, Patel’s many clashes with lawmakers were splashed all over cable news and social media. But the controversial FBI director was welcomed by Republicans, who rolled out an array of excuses to protect President Donald Trump’s top cop.

While Patel faced criticism from Democrats and the far right for bungling the investigation into the assassination of Kirk — prominently including tweeting out false information regarding an arrest within hours of the shooting in Utah last Wednesday, at the start of a manhunt that would last more than 24 hours — Republicans on Capitol Hill stayed behind their man.

“I don't know that it was a mistake,” Sen. Markwayne Mullin (R-OK) told Raw Story, of Patel spreading bad information on social media.

“I know that Kash Patel is doing a wonderful job, and that guy I support to the end.”

Mullin was far from alone — and that has dumbfounded Democrats.

"What every law enforcement agent in America would say is [Patel committed] a massive bungle,” Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) told Raw Story. “In the midst of an investigation he released incorrect information. That is unfortunate.”

Raw Story asked if this could be seen as “a teachable moment” for Patel.

"He was recalcitrant,” Booker said, after clashing with Patel Tuesday. “He was combative. He refused to answer basic, simple questions.

“We have a constitutional obligation for oversight — he undermined that constitutional check and balance … It's the Trump way, right? Not to work within the bounds of the Constitution but to assault, attack, demean and denigrate.”

‘So heartbroken’

Since Patel’s combative confirmation in January, Democrats have warned the public defender turned far-right troll is unfit to lead the FBI. After Kirk’s murder, they claim to have proof.

But the GOP controls Congress and though Patel has faced criticism from some inside Trump’s White House and among Republicans on Capitol Hill — let alone frustrated FBI agents — Kash remains all but king.

Despite being confirmed by the bare minimum number of senators, 51-49, Patel has cover from the GOP, including when he tweets out misinformation in the midst of a nationwide manhunt.

“Oh, you know, the fog of war,” Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX), the former Senate Republican whip, told Raw Story. “I thought he did fine.”

Other Republicans are seemingly going out of their way to make up excuses.

“I suspect Kash probably knew Charlie,” Sen. Cynthia Lummis (R-WY) told Raw Story. “And he was so heartbroken that he wanted to make sure that the perpetrator was caught right away.

“So, at least, I understand, he might have jumped the gun a little on whether the guy had been actually apprehended or not. I get it. You know, people were just kind of hyper-emotional.”

As information about suspect Tyler Robinson fills headlines, Patel stands by the misinformation he initially spread. Nonetheless, other Republicans are blaming his aides.

“He was just going by the people that worked for him,” Sen. Tommy Tuberville (R-AL) told Raw Story. “Somebody made a mistake, obviously, but I mean, no harm, no foul.”

“But some folks say Patel and [FBI Deputy Director Dan] Bongino are politicizing the agency?” Raw Story pressed.

“‘Politicizing’?” What does that mean?” Tuberville asked.

“Going after what Democrats call the president's enemies list or [Patel’s] enemies list,” Raw Story explained.

“I don't listen to all that stuff,” Tuberville said.

Other Republicans aren’t listening to Patel either, but that doesn’t mean they’re not standing by him.

“He's trying to be transparent,” Sen. Ron Johnson (R-WI) told Raw Story.

“When you're transparent, you're providing information that ends up not being 100 percent correct. I'm sympathetic from that standpoint. Investigating crimes is not easy.”

“Overall you're pleased with him?” Raw Story pressed. “And the direction of the FBI?”

“I haven't had much contact with him, quite honestly,” Johnson said. “I know all these people have enormous challenges. They're trying to ferret out the partisans in their ranks and still have an awful lot of work to do.”

Johnson must not have gotten the memo on rooting out “partisans,” because throughout two days of testimony before the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, Patel denied targeting FBI personnel over personal politics.

‘Not familiar with the case’

Despite a torrent of reporting on Patel’s misinformation-laced tweets, some Republicans claim to remain blissfully unaware of the steady stream of negative headlines.

“Where do you see false information?” Mullin asked.

“He said someone was in custody when it wasn't accurate,” Raw Story explained.

“I'm not familiar with the case,” Mullin said.

“You didn't hear that?” Raw Story asked.

“I don't know what you're talking about,” Mullin said, “but if you're going to talk about purposely misleading people, let's talk about the White House and the last administration.”

“It wasn't purposeful,” Raw Story explained.

“But then it wasn't misleading. Information may have been a mistake,” Mullin said. “You and I make mistakes all the time. I don't know that it was a mistake. I know that Kash Patel is doing a wonderful job, and that guy I support to the end.”

‘Everybody needs to calm down’

Patel verbally scrapped with Democrats this week, even amid worries that rhetoric is out of control in Washington — and thus spilling out in states like Utah and Minnesota, where in June Democratic state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark Hortman, were killed and state senator John Hoffman and his wife, Yvette Hoffman, were wounded.

Still, tensions remain high in Washington, with lawmakers from both parties braced for further violence as members keep pointing fingers.

“I'm totally for free speech — even speech I don't like,” Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ) told Raw Story.

“That being said, I mean, it's just sad, because I think that we've seen kind of an explosion of it. I think we're going to see more of it.”

The Trump White House continues pointing fingers at the left, which it blames for incendiary political rhetoric and deepening division, even as more moderate Democrats urge their base to give the GOP time to grieve.

“I don't care, you know, if you think someone's extreme,” Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) told Raw Story. “So what? It's just like, that's democracy, that's free speech. And now I'm not going to make it any more complicated than just that. It’s terrible.”

Many Democrats say the Kirk assassination highlights the peculiarly American problem of easy access to high-powered weapons. But the GOP has rebuffed calls for new gun control measures as a response to Kirk’s death.

“Everybody just needs to calm down,” Rep. Lois Frankel, a Florida Democrat, told Raw Story. “We have to have debates with words, not with guns. That's how I feel about the whole thing.

“Really, debate with words.”