MUST WATCH: Sparks Fly When Chris Van Hollen Confronts Kash Patel About 'Provably False Statements'

Thank you.Thank you, Senator Murkowski.Senator Van Hollen and I are going to just have a couple of wrap -up questions, and then we'll conclude the hearing, and I'll turn to Senator Van Hollen.Thank you, Mr. Chairman.So, Director Patel, I've been listening carefully to your responses to some of my colleagues, and I want to start with a question that Senator Coons asked you that relates to this article where the headline is, Kash Patel's latest firings ousted agents with expertise in Iran.The article says that these individuals were fired for their role in the classified documents investigations of Donald Trump.

First of all, is that true?

The article, just like all the other articles you cited, is false.And there's ongoing litigation, so I can't address it.OK.

You did answer, Senator Coons, and I understood your answer to me, that the people that were fired, that none of them were part of the investigation.a group that had Iran expertise.Is that your answer?

No, he asked if they were Iran experts.I said they were not.

Were the group fired?Did it include people who were Iran experts?

No.

Did it include people who were involved in counter espionage activities with respect to Iran?

I don't have the list in front of me.

So you don't know whether or not you fired people with counter executive counter -espionage experience with respect to Iran.You don't know the answer to that question.

I terminated anyone and everyone that weaponized law enforcement.

I see.So it was related, obviously, to the classified documents case.

That's not what I said.

Director Patel, I understood you to say, in response to Senator Murray, that you've not redirected FBI resources toward the immigration enforcement effort.

That's not what I said.Did have you read?

resources away from your core FBI responsibilities toward the mass deportation effort?

No one at the FBI has been permanently reassigned on the immigration front.And when we pull the numbers, the FBI's overall operational field expenditures surged periodically for immigration enforcement activities, including the arrest of 2000 people with direct ties to foreign terrorist organizations was 2 .4%.

So, okay, so the key word there, I guess, was permanently.You have not permanently reassigned.You reassigned temporarily.Surges, yes, sir.Have you had a chance to listen to or read about Brian Driscoll's statements about what you said to him and the reasons for his firing?

No, I have not, sir.

So, let me just say this, Mr. Director.In your response to me earlier, where you had a little bit of a blow -up, made a couple provably false statements.

So did you?

No.Mr. Director, I was reading about and asking you and asking you to respond to allegations that are made.In fact, I was giving you an opportunity to do that.And you took that opportunity.But in the process, you made these provably false statements that I know are sort of like urban legend in right wing media about margaritas in El Salvador, which is provably false.And so coming from the mouth of an FBI director to make provably false statements in a hearing like this is extremely troubling.

And it leads me to ask whether or not the other things you've been saying are false statements.Because that's a provably false statement.You made a couple others that are provably false.And this is from the mouth of the FBI director.

The only one that made false statements is you.

My final question to you, Mr. Director, is do you know that it is a crime to lie to Congress?Do you know that?That's my last question.

I have not lied to Congress.I didn't ask you that.

I have not lied to Congress as you.I'm not testifying here, sir, and I don't lie.

Maybe the next time you run up a $7 ,000 bar tab, we can talk about it.

Well, see, there you go.Lying again.You suggested...

In the FEC report.I'll post it right now.

You suggested it was public.It wasn't public money, as you know.That was for a 50 -member staff party.

So it was a $7 ,000 bar tab.

Mr. Patel, I'm glad...Let me just say in closing, Mr. Chairman, two things.I'm glad that you have agreed to take the test regarding whether you have alcohol problems.I'm glad you agreed with me to do that.You still haven't answered my final question.Do you know, Mr. Director, that it is a crime to lie to Congress?

Do you know that?

I do not lie to Congress.

I didn't ask you that.

And you're insinuating that I am.

I asked you whether you know.

You want to correct your time in this session where you got steamrolled by the facts so you can have a Twitter narrative.Mr. Director.So you can go raise more money and spend more money on $7 ,000.Just let the record show, Mr. Chairman.And I'm not going to give it to you.

The director of the FBI apparently does not want to answer the question.about whether or not it's a crime to lie to Congress, and I find that extremely troubling.

I find it troubling that you lie to the American people every day.

You are a disgrace, Mr. Director.

I'm nearly as big as you.

The fact that you can't answer that question, I will, I will, that concludes my questioning, Mr. Chairman, but I'm obviously very troubled.A question for the Director of ATF.Director Sekata, I want to talk just a minute aboutNYPA.