Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) triggered FBI Director Kash Patel into a rage during the Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Tuesday when he pointed out that key agents working on important task forces involving terrorism and even child trafficking have been diverted to work instead on immigration matters.
Booker said that Patel has made the U.S. "less safe" — which sent Patel into a fury.
"Donald Trump promised to make us all safer. You have pushed out senior FBI agents with decades of knowledge and experience. In fact, this is the first time in FBI history that neither the director nor the deputy director have any experience with the FBI. You've shifted the agency's priorities primarily to pursuing Donald Trump's immigration enforcement agenda," said Booker.
"According to ICE data, the Cato Institute, which is a conservative think tank, found that 20% of all agents have been diverted from their work to do assist ICE immigration enforcement," Booker continued.
He then questioned whether FBI agents who investigate crimes against children have been assigned to immigration enforcement.
Patel employed a tactic during the hearing, objecting to the "premise" of the question whenever he chose not to answer, which Booker charged.
"You don't get to say that America is not safer under this leadership!" Patel yelled as the hearing chairman, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA) slammed his gavel. "America is safer because of the work of the FBI!"
The two men yelled over each other for several minutes until Grassley silenced them, with a telling off for Booker.
Booker ultimately told Patel, "I don't think you're long for your job."
"You are an embarrassment to the division of this country!" Patel said, telling Booker, "Your time is over."
"Sir, you don't tell me my time is over! The people of New Jersey tell me when my time is — you can't lecture me!" Booker yelled.
"I'm not going anywhere!" Patel yelled back.
"I am not afraid of you!" Booker maintained.
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