WASHINGTON — Senators questioned two appointees from President Donald Trump who aim to oversee top national security posts on Thursday and some of those members have serious concerns.
Kash Patel, nominated to serve a 10-year term as the head of the FBI, faced a combative committee where he was forced to explain his conspiracy theories and pledge of retribution against his enemies list.
Tulsi Gabbard, nominated to lead the intelligence community as the director of national intelligence, similarly was forced to answer for her proposed legislation to pardon Edward Snowden and her relationships with Syrian and Russian leaders.
Speaking to Raw Story, Sen. Chris Coons (D-DE) said that one of the most disturbing answers Patel gave was when he asked who the FBI works for.
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"I think I asked this two or three different ways," the senator recalled. "And he said, 'Well, we report to,' — and I said, 'Okay you're part of the Department of Justice. I agree with that, but I asked Attorney General [Pam] Bondi this question. Who do you work for? And [Patel] said basically, the White House."
Coons said Bondi cited the American people and the Constitution.
The second question he took issue with was Patel's response to questions about how he would respond if Trump asked him to do something illegal, unethical, or unconstitutional.
Coons took issue with Patel's answer: "If directed to do — I would never break the law."
"You have to be willing to refuse an order and resign," Coons said, recalling that he asked the same question of Christopher Wray and his two previous predecessors.
"He just wouldn't..." Coons said, trailing off. "It gives me real pause because he's not — Bill Barr answered easily. Pam Bondi answered easily. Merrick Garland answered easily. I do that with every nominee."
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Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-HI) said there are issues with Gabbard's "qualifications and experience" to lead the intelligence community, which oversees 18 intelligence agencies.
When it comes to Patel, she said she has "Serious concerns about his ability to do the job in an objective and fair way and not [be] driven by an ideological desire to go after people, including the media."
Raw Story noted that Patel said that Democrats are "making up lies."
"Well, we are using his own words," Hirono quipped.
Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) agreed Patel and Gabbard "are both dangerous."
"It's unpleasant to be told we're making up lies when we're using his actual words and when we're using the actual words of his Trump-appointed colleagues who work with him. So, there's a disconnect with his defense, which I think is for the TV and for Trump and the actual facts of the matter," he continued.
"Honesty is not the watch-word here," Whitehouse noted.
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Sen. Ron Wyden (D-OR) criticized Gabbard for being glib when he asked about her how she would respond to an illegal order from Trump.
Gabbard said, "I don't believe for a second that President Trump would do anything to break the law." Trump was found guilty on 34 felony counts in the state of New York.
"You know, that's a constitutional question," Wyden said, calling that question "the ball game." He called her answer "very disappointing."
"This is constitutional lawlessness, let me use that word specifically," said Wyden. "If they say we're just going to blow off illegal orders.