Overview

• After a contentious week on Capitol Hill, Patel told reporters he is proud to lead the bureau and is not going anywhere, touting record interest in FBI jobs.
• Senators pressed him over his initial social post saying a suspect was in custody in the Kirk case; he later said he could have worded it better but defended the post as transparency.
• A photographed note in Patel’s hand — “Good fight with Swalwell. Hold the line. Brush off their attacks. Rise above the next line of partisan attacks.” — went viral and drew widespread mockery online.
• Exchanges with Democrats including Cory Booker and Eric Swalwell were tense, with Booker forecasting a short tenure and Patel pushing back from the witness table.
• Scrutiny has also come from the right, with conservative activist Chris Rufo questioning whether Patel has the temperament and capacity to lead the FBI effectively.