Trump issues an ultimatum to senior FBI agents in his government purge after Kash Patel vowed to 'not go backward'

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

It's not an enemies list – that is a total mischaracterization.

But Patel told senators

I will follow the law.”

During questioning from senators, Patel refused to say

We will go out and find the conspirators not just in government, but in the media.”

In a

I want you to look at them if you can, if you have the courage to look them in the eye, Mr. Patel. Tell them you're proud of what you did,

Schiff said

Richard Blumenthalsenator

The appearance here is that you have something to hide,

Blumenthal told him

The question is: Will you lie for the president of the United States?"

Booker said

Even in a classified, confidential setting, I think that position is disqualifying, ... What are you hiding?" ... Why won't you tell us?"

he said, before adding

In the name of all the values you have said today, did you or did you not testify to witnessing the president of the United States declassify documents?"

Booker asked, his voice rising several octaves

Tell them you're proud that you raised money off of people that assaulted their colleagues, that pepper sprayed them, that beat them with poles. Tell them you're proud of what you did, ... They're right there. They are guarding you today."

Schiff said, adding

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

Turn around and look at them,

Schiff told Patel before motioning to the officers lined up for protection along the back of the room

The agents ... [D ... D]eserve better than to have the man that point-blank range fired a shotgun into their heads and murdered them released from prison."

he said

The FBI is the primary agency responsible for investigating election-related crimes, including fraud and the denial of voting rights,

Hirono said

A substantial portion of those cases involved violence, and the individuals that were involved in assaulting and forcibly resisting officers, those individuals won’t be held accountable, and there won’t be a public record created of their actions,

Graves said

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

I have always rejected any violence against law enforcement, and I have included in that group specifically addressed any violence against law enforcement on January 6,

Patel said during his confirmation hearing

There has been no ‘grave national injustice.’ And just because the Proclamation was signed by the President does not transform up into down or down into up as if peering through the looking glass of Alice in Wonderland,

Friedmann wrote

Kash PatelfBI director nominee

What I can say is the same for both of them, Senator, both of their elections were certified, and they are both… one was and one now is president,

Patel responded

I mean, look at the people who held that job before Mr. Patel, the stature of the people that held that job, the qualifications of the people that held that job,

he continued

These are bad people. We have a lot of bad people. But when you look at ‘Shifty Schiff’ and some of the others, yeah, they are, to me, the enemy from within,

Trump told Fox News in October

He is refusing the transparency that he claims to adhere to. He is refusing to be direct with the United States Senate. He's refusing to be transparent and put it all out there. Did he or did he not lie for the president? That is the question.”

He added

Peter Welchsenator

I can say the words Donald Trump won. I don't like to say it, but I must say it,

said Welch