'Both of you be quiet!' Shouting erupts as Kash Patel explodes at senator

FBI Director Kash Patel was gaveled down during a heated Senate committee hearing Tuesday after launching into a tirade directed at Sen. Adam Schiff (D-CA), a rant sparked after he was pressed on the Trump administration’s controversial moves regarding its probe into accused sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein.

Schiff asked Patel, who was testifying before the Senate Judiciary Committee, if he knew who decided to move Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, who’s serving a 20-year prison sentence for sex trafficking, to a low-security prison in Texas, and within one week of her interview with President Donald Trump’s deputy attorney general.

Patel said it was the Bureau of Prisons that made the decision. Maxwell’s transfer required the waiving of federal prison rules, given that sex offenders are not eligible to be housed in minimum-security prisons.

Schiff was clearly not satisfied with Patel’s response.

“The Bureau of Prisons decided on their own, without any consultation with [Deputy Attorney General Todd] Blanche or anyone else, that they were going to suddenly – completely unrelated to this interview – move her to a prison not suitable for a sex offender?” Schiff said. “You want the American people to believe that? Do you think they're stupid?”

Visibly angry, Patel then launched into a tirade against Schiff, one that the California senator attempted to speak over throughout.

“No, I think the American people believe the truth, that I'm not in the weeds on the everyday movements of inmates,” Patel said.

“What I am doing is protecting this country, providing historic reform and combating the weaponization of intelligence by the likes of you! And we have countlessly proven you to be a liar in Russiagate, in Jan. 6… you're the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate! You're a disgrace to this institution and an utter coward!”

Schiff tried unsuccessfully to speak over Patel as he continued insulting him, accusing Patel of being complicit in what he dubbed the “Epstein files cover up.” Patel continued, however, to launch insult after insult toward Schiff.

“I'm not surprised that you continue to lie from your perch and put on a show so you can go raise money for your charades!” Patel shouted. “You are a political buffoon, at best! Take it to the bank that the FBI is protecting this country!”

Both men paused their shouting match at the repeated sound of a gavel being slammed, with the committee’s chair, Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-IA), shouting “both of you be quiet!”