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WATCH: Kash Patel Calls Adam Schiff A “Political Buffoon” In Heated Exchange Over Epstein Files
FBI Director Kash Patel and Senator Adam Schiff clashed in a fiery exchange at a Senate Judiciary Committee Tuesday.
Patel was questioned by Democrats over his handling of the Jeffrey Epstein files amid scrutiny over the Charlie Kirk investigation.
Schiff, a California Democrat and prominent Trump critic, asked Patel why Epstein associate and convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell was moved to a minimum security prison camp.
- FBI Director Kash Patel and Senator Adam Schiff engaged in a heated Senate hearing marked by personal insults and sharp accusations.
- Patel also clashed with Senator Cory Booker, who predicted Patel’s tenure as FBI director might be ending soon.
- A lawsuit alleges Patel fired senior FBI officials for political reasons, but he denied any terminations based on Trump-related investigations.
Kash Patel and Adam Schiff clashed at a Senate hearing
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The Bureau of Prisons typically does not allow inmates convicted of sex offenses to be housed in minimum security facilities or federal prison camps.
Maxwell’s transfer also came after an interview with Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche.
When Patel said the Bureau of Prisons independently made the decision to transfer Maxwell, Schiff asked him if he thought the American public was “stupid.”
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
“What I am doing is protecting this country, providing historic reform, and combating the weaponization of intelligence by the likes of you,” Patel said, as Schiff continued to talk.
“We have countlessly proven you to be a liar in Russiagate, in January 6. You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate.”
The shouting match continued, with Patel describing Schiff as a “coward” and a “fraud,” and going on to say he was a “political buffoon at best.”
HOLY FREAKING SH*T!! 🔥🔥🔥
KASH PATEL JUST WIPED THE FLOOR WITH ADAM SCHIFF
OUCH… THAT’S GOTTA STING! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/12uddc8D4V
— Gina Milan (@ginamilan_) September 16, 2025
It was not the only fiery exchange of the day; Patel also clashed with Senator Cory Booker.
Booker told Patel he was failing as a leader, adding, “I think you’re not going to be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing.”
When Patel was given time to respond to Booker, another shouting match ensued, and Patel stated, “I’m not going anywhere.”
“I am not afraid of you,” Booker shouted back at him.
Patel also had a fiery clash with Cory Booker
Image credits: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The hearing came amid reports that Patel is losing the confidence of the Trump administration in doing his job.
After prominent right-wing activist Kirk was shot on September 10, Patel posted on X that a subject was in custody for the killing.
But the suspect had not been apprehended, and the two people questioned by the FBI were released.
The post was said to have caused turmoil in law enforcement, who were reportedly about to state at a press conference that the suspect was not apprehended when Patel made the claim.
Suspect Tyler Robinson was arrested one day later on September 11.
Patel has defended his post but conceded he could have worded it better, while Donald Trump has publicly backed his handling of the case.
🚨FIREWORKS: CORY BOOKER JUST DESTROYED KASH PATEL.
He’s done. It’s over.
This is a Must-watch. 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NvUqrFJMcf
— CALL TO ACTIVISM (@CalltoActivism) September 16, 2025
Causing further unease is a lawsuit filed against Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi over the firing of senior FBI officials, who allege their oustings were politically motivated, and that they were viewed as insufficiently loyal to Trump.
Patel, at his Senate committee hearing earlier this year, said he would not seek retribution against FBI officials or politicize the bureau.
The suit was filed by Brian Driscoll, former acting FBI director; Steven Jensen, the former assistant director in charge of the Washington, D.C., field office; and Spencer Evans, a longtime FBI special agent in charge.
They allege that Patel implied he was pressured to fire them by the White House over their connections to previous investigations into Trump.
The suit also claims that Patel knew the firings were “likely illegal,” but he felt his job was contingent on removing the agents.
During his testimony, Patel said he did not fire anyone due to their assignments to specific cases involving Trump.
“No one at the FBI has been terminated for case assignments alone,” Patel said when questioned by Schiff.
He also told the hearing that those fired “failed to meet the needs of the FBI and uphold their constitutional duties.”
While the fiery outbursts were a prominent feature at the hearing, Patel also sought to defend his job and actions taken so far.
He said there was “no credible information” that Epstein trafficked minors to other people, and also addressed the Kirk investigation.
The director told the hearing that the FBI would be interrogating “a lot more” than 20 people who were in a Discord group chat with Robinson.
Kash Patel came to the Senate today not to do his job, but to save his job.
The hard-working men and women of the FBI deserve a Director who isn’t just performing for an audience of one.
— Adam Schiff (@SenAdamSchiff) September 16, 2025
Patel further detailed cities that could soon see National Guard troops deployed as Trump touts his crackdown on crime.
“We did it in DC. We’re doing it in Memphis. We’re going to Chicago, Miami, St. Louis — so many other cities across the country,” he said.
In a statement after the hearing, Schiff said Patel was performing for an audience of one.
“Kash Patel came to the Senate today not to do his job, but to save his job. The hard-working men and women of the FBI deserve a Director who isn’t just performing for an audience of one,” he wrote on X.
The longtime feud between Patel and Schiff goes back to 2016, when Schiff was the chair of the House Intelligence Committee.
At the time, Patel was a House Intelligence staffer and worked on discrediting the probe into Russian interference in the 2016 election, which was led by Schiff.
Schiff is reportedly being investigated over claims that he committed mortgage fraud. He has described the allegations as Trump’s attempt at political retribution.
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