During his confirmation hearing Thursday morning for the position of FBI Director, Trump nominee Kash Patel broke with his boss over the J6 rioters convicted of assaulting police officers, emphatically stating that they should be "imprisoned."
"As for January 6, I have often, publicly and privately said there can never be a tolerance for violence against law enforcement," Patel said. "And anyone -- Anyone -- that commits an act of violence against law enforcement must be investigated, prosecuted and imprisoned. On January 6 I said the same thing about acts against law enforcement. The Capitol Police, who I have served with, and when I was chief of staff at the Department of Defense, rushing to the aid of the members of this committee and your colleagues to provide the National Guard was my top mission priority, not politics. And that is my love of this country to protect our laws and way of life. And it was no different. If there is any corruption I have been the first to call it out and I will continue to call out corruption in government service because it is a privilege to serve this nation."
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On his first day in office, President Donald Trump blanket pardoned about 1,500 rioters, including those who beat and pepper sprayed police. The president has called the rioters "hostages" and "political prisoners" who didn't deserve the prison sentences they were given.
