Washington (AP) – FBI Director Kash Patel He defended the Trump administration’s handling Jeffrey Epstein Files On Wednesday, he returned to Capitol Hill on the second day and faced intense questions from Democrats about his promise of transparency surrounding criminal cases by wealthy financial operators.
Political blow Trump administration decision in July Not releasing more investigative files from the Epstein case was at the heart of Patel’s five-hour appearance before the House Judiciary Committee.
That continued A loud hearing in front of the Senate Judiciary Committee On Tuesday, Democrats turned their attention to criticism that Patel politicized the bureau and turned it into a weapon against Trump’s perceived enemy.
Check out the key points from Wednesday’s hearing.
Tension moments surrounding the t
He files Epstein files
Some of the most explosive exchanges centered on the handling of Justice Department files related to Epstein’s sex trafficking investigations and past comments from FBI directors who raised conservative hopes that the Trump administration would unearth a new bomb.
Rep. Jamie Ruskin of Maryland, the top Democrat on the committee, performed a clip from the 2023 interview. Patel said the FBI has an Epstein “black book” with the client name. After a lengthy review, the Justice Department said in July that there was no evidence that the so-called “client list” existed and that the files it owned were not publicly disclosed.
“How did you get to hide it, part of the plot, because it’s the crusader of accountability and transparency in the Epstein Files?” Ruskin said.
In another intense moment, California Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell said that Patel made Patel a pepper; He told Attorney General Pam Bondy The Trump name was included in the Epstein Files.
When Patel didn’t answer immediately, Swalwell asked slowly again, urging Patel to snap back.
The FBI director repeatedly defended the handling of files, claiming that the FBI has released everything “legally permitted.” He pointed out Judge’s decision to deny the Department of Justice’s request The transcript of the large ju judge will be sealed in the case. However, these decisions do not prohibit the Department of Justice from publishing other investigation files related to the case.
The FBI can look up Epstein’s birthday letter signature
Patel signaled the FBI to investigate Trump’s claims. A sexually suggestive letter to Epstein, said to carry the president’s signature It was forged. The letter was released by Democrats earlier this month on the House Oversight Committee after being handed over by the Epstein Estate.
Trump denied writing a letter with his name, and what appears to be his signature includes text framed by the hand-drawn outlines of a curvy woman. The President and the White House have repeatedly said that it wasn’t his signature. This letter was included in a book prepared for Epstein’s 50th birthday in 2003.
The FBI director’s comments were published in a line of questions from Democrat Rep. Jared Moskowitz. Jared Moskowitz told Patel whether they would “start an investigation into the Epstein Estate to issue fake documents.”
Patel first responded: “Why?” But when Moskowitz asked again, Patel replied: “Indeed, I will do that.” However, it is not clear whether the FBI will formally begin an investigation or what such a probe will look like.
“You were dishonorable to the Americans.”
Just as Patel appeared one day before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Wednesday’s hearing included fiery in exchange for Democrats, in at least one instance.
That includes a crying match with Swalwell, A federal judge in New York said By rejecting a request to establish testimony from a major ju court in his lawsuits with Epstein and Epstein, he was called “(expletive)” by the Department of Justice. His ex-girlfriend, Gislaine Maxwell.
Patel repeatedly refuted to refute him when Swalwell asked him whether he would refuse from investigation or unfavorable actions, like himself, who was selected as a “part of the deep state of the administrative division” in a book he wrote before becoming director earlier this year.
“I will use your terminology to call your whole career,” Patel cried angrily. “You were dishonorable to the Americans.”
Democrats praise on crime
As expected, Trump was thoroughly supported by Republicans, but received praise from Tennessee Democrat Steve Cohen during the deeply polarized political situation from Tennessee Democrats for his participation in the surge in law enforcement in Memphis called Operation Viper.
Trump on Monday Announcement with Tennessee Governor Bill Lee That National Guard will be deployed to the city to fight crime and participate in the city’s special task force, consisting of staff from various federal agencies, including the FBI and DEA.
Lee says the goal is to “accelerate the positive momentum of Operation Viper,” a mission to combat crime.
“You did a good job. The police chief and mayor told me that the FBI is working with the police,” Cohen said. “They know Miranda’s rights. They know how to do police and work with the police and do a good job.”
The White House posted on social media that Memphis’ total crime rate is higher than the national average, backing the national trend, suggesting it has been on the rise since last year. That’s despite Memphis police recently reporting a decline across all major crime categories in the first eight months of 2025 compared to the same period in the past. Overall crime hit its lowest level in 25 years, while murder hit its highest level in six years, police said.
“We have some crimes, but it’s not a problem city. We don’t have any problems,” Cohen said.
“Russia, Russia, Russia” has become a prominent moment
Republicans turn their attention to one of Trump’s major complaints; Long-joined federal investigation On relations between Russia and his 2016 presidential campaign.
Trump denounced the investigation as “a hoax,” “witch hunting,” and “Russia, Russia, Russia,” and Patel on Wednesday said the fact that it was launched at all was a “mass scandal.”
The investigation did not establish criminal conspiracy between Russia and the Trump campaign, but established multiple government reviews – Includes reports from Department of Justice inspectors And former special advisor Robert Mueller discovered that the investigation was open for legitimate purposes and that Russia interfered in that year’s election in a drastic way.
Patel confirmed with lawmakers that the FBI is examining various aspects of Trump Russia’s investigation, including leaks to news media and discovering documents related to the probes in so-called “burning bags” within the FBI headquarters. Production of intelligence community assessment It was published in January 2017 and documented various means of Russian interference.
It is not clear whether any of these enquiries will create a fee or, if the criminal agent and prosecutor were committed.
During the hearing, he was asked, “Is there more to do to clarify the depth and origin of the Russian conspiracy hoax?”
“There,” replied Patel, “And we’re doing it.”
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