Florida Senator Ashley Moody voiced strong support for Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee for FBI Director, during a contentious Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on Thursday.
Moody praised Patel’s commitment to collaborating with state and local law enforcement, calling him the right leader to “rightsize” the agency and restore its focus on combating crime.
However, the hearing quickly turned heated as Democratic senators, including California’s Adam Schiff, grilled Patel over his past involvement with the “J6 Prison Choir” and his claims about classified documents at Mar-a-Lago.
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Moody voiced strong support for Patel, praising his commitment to collaboration with state and local law enforcement. “We need somebody at the helm that understands the mission is to stand on that line between good and evil, between crime and chaos,” Moody said. “There is no other mission, and we trust that you’re going to rightsize this agency and set it back on course. And I am proud to support you.”
Moody’s endorsement underscored Patel’s reputation as a staunch ally of law enforcement and a proponent of a more decentralized approach to federal policing.
The hearing took a contentious turn when Senator Adam Schiff (D-CA) grilled Patel over his involvement with the “J6 Prison Choir,” a group of individuals convicted for their roles in the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot. Schiff accused Patel of promoting a song titled Justice for All, which featured the choir singing the National Anthem alongside former President Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance. The song reached No. 1 on iTunes following its release in March 2023.
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“Isn’t that great? People who violently attack police have a number one song thanks to you, Mr. Patel. That’s something to be really proud of,” Schiff said sarcastically. He challenged Patel to address Capitol Police officers present in the room, asking, “Tell them you’re proud that you raised money off of people who assaulted their colleagues, who pepper sprayed them, that beat them with poles. Tell them you’re proud of what you did, Mr. Patel.”
Patel vehemently denied the allegations, stating, “That is an abject lie and you know it. I’ve never, never, ever accepted violence against law enforcement. I have worked with these men and women my entire life, and I did not make a single dime out of this.” He emphasized his long-standing support for law enforcement and condemned the violence of January 6.
Schiff also pressed Patel on his claims that Trump had declassified documents stored at Mar-a-Lago. Patel acknowledged that Trump had declassified “a large number” of materials but did not confirm that all the documents in question had been declassified. Trump faced criminal charges over the alleged unlawful storage of classified materials, though the case was later dismissed by Judge Aileen Cannon due to a violation of the Appointments Clause of the U.S. Constitution.
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The hearing also revisited Schiff’s own controversies, including his censure by the House of Representatives in June 2023 for falsely claiming he had evidence of collusion between Trump’s 2016 campaign and Russia. Former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy removed Schiff from the House Intelligence Committee in January 2023 over his conduct.
Throughout the hearing, Patel defended his qualifications, citing his extensive experience in public service and law enforcement. He reiterated his commitment to restoring trust in the FBI and ensuring the agency focuses on its core mission of protecting Americans from crime and terrorism.
“I have spent my career standing with law enforcement and fighting for justice,” Patel said. “If confirmed, I will ensure the FBI remains apolitical, transparent, and accountable to the American people.”
The Senate Judiciary Committee will now deliberate on Patel’s nomination.
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