Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, insisted to deeply skeptical Democrats on Thursday that he did not have an “enemies list" and that the bureau under his leadership would not seek retribution against the president's adversaries or launch investigations for political purposes.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. continued to press Patel in blistering terms over President Trump's sweeping pardons for Jan. 6 rioters. The senator then pressed Patel directly, u

During his opening remarks, Patel began by honoring his Indian heritage, thanking his parents—Pramod and Anjana Patel—who flew from India for the hearing as well as his sister Nisha. He drew attention to their presences and greeted them with the Hindu greeting “Jai Shri Krishna.” A video clip also showed him touching their feet.

During Jan. 15 confirmation hearings for Pam Bondi, Trump's nominee for attorney general who oversees the FBI as part of the Justice Department, Democratic senators pressed Bondi on whether Patel was a good choice to run the agency, pointing to Patel's previous comments calling for downsizing the intelligence community.

Patel is a controversial nominee, having long raged against the so-called Deep State and prioritized his loyalty to Trump.

In a letter, advocates urge Senate to oppose Patel’s nomination for FBI director, citing his past “incendiary comments” and threats

FBI Director nominee Kash Patel will appear for his confirmation hearing Thursday before the Senate Judiciary Committee, likely rejoining Trump’s White House after Patel was able to leverage his stint in Trump’s first administration and loyalty to the president into a moneymaking personal brand and controversial nonprofit.

As Patel faces members of the Senate in his confirmation hearing, Americans are curious to learn more about his background.

Patel has been a staunch Trump loyalist. But did he waver today?

When Donald Trump announced he wanted Kash Patel to be the next director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, one of Patel’s first moves was reaching out to three conservative former special agents who have been critics of the bureau and its sprawling investigation into the Jan.

Democrats persistently rung alarms about Patel’s professions of obeisance to Trump. Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island suggested Patel fit the mold of an authoritarian foot soldier, characterizing him as vengeful, intemperate, and servile. “I’m afraid that the history of this nominee’s conduct raises those warnings,” he said.