Trump Witnesses Unravel Under Cross Exam at Hearing
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What questions did Senator Merkley ask FBI Director Kash Patel about due process violations?
Let's take a look at this cross-examination by Democratic senators of Donald Trump's cabinet and Donald Trump's administration. Right here, you have Democratic Senator Merkley cross-examining FBI Director Kash Patel about whether or not he intends to launch an investigation of reported violations of due process of several hundred individuals who were put in concentration camps in El Salvador. Let's watch it.
It is your job to investigate crimes.
Yes, I agree with the Fifth Amendment. I agree with the entire Constitution and the men and women at the FBI decide.
So are you going to launch an investigation of the reported violation of the due process of several hundred individuals?
Again, Senator, it's not for me to call the balls and strikes on it. The men and women at the FBI who are trained to open investigations will make those calls.
So you have no influence over whether an investigation is opened?
I have influence over it, but you're asking me a constitutional question. I'm not a constitutional scholar.
It's actually not a, it's a question also of law.
Your position is that every one of those individuals is by constitutional right afforded due process. I don't know the answer to that. I'm telling you. You haven't read the constitution? It says all persons. I've got it right here. But what you're saying is that every single one of the illegals that was sent down to El Salvador is supposed to be given due process pursuant.
That's what the Constitution says.
It doesn't say that.
It does say no person. I'll encourage you to read it because it's also been affirmed by the Supreme Court repeatedly on the case of Miranda versus Arizona, held the right of all individuals, regardless of citizenship status, the Supreme Court in Reno versus Flores. I mean, but it's the plain language of the Constitution. It concerns me that you're not familiar with the core concept of due process applying to all persons as written in black and white in the Constitution.
Next up, we have Democratic Senator Murray, cross-examining FBI Director Kash Patel. about why he has not even produced what his FBI budget is going to be when coming before a Senate committee about that budget. You'll see Kash Patel looks like a little kid who hasn't done their homework. It's just so incompetent playing this clip.
Why has FBI Director Kash Patel not submitted the FY2026 budget request?
It was due last week by law.
I understand.
And your answer is you just understand you're not going to follow the law.
My answer is that I am following the law and I'm working with my interagency partners to do this and get you the budget that you are required to have.
And you have no timeline?
No.
Well, we also need a full budget request, not a single paragraph full of wild talking points that we saw with the skinny budget proposal. We're now having a budget hearing without a budget request. So, Director Patel, where is the FY2026 budget request for the FBI?
It's being worked on, ma'am.
Have you reviewed it? Have you approved it?
Not yet.
When will we get it?
As soon as I can get it from my interagency partners and get it approved.
six months from now?
I don't know, ma'am.
Well, how do we as Congress do our budget and our work without that request and without the spend plan?
Well, ma'am, I'm here. I'm doing the best I can. I can't make up answers. I'm going to commit to you to work on getting you the information you need.
That is insufficient and deeply disturbing. No response?
I've given my response.
And then, of course, Kash Patel gets way too emotional. These Trump MAGA guys can't control their emotions at all. So Kash Patel got angry that he didn't do his homework and didn't even submit the basic budget documents. So here he gets mad at Senator Murray and says he's not going to tolerate her. Here, play this clip.
Placed on leave, FBI employees responsible for the investigation of January 6th. That sounds political to me.
How did Kash Patel respond emotionally during the budget hearing?
I have not placed anyone on leave who has not violated their ethical obligation or their oath to the Constitution.
So if they were investigating January 6th, you believe they were violating an ethical obligation?
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Chapters
5 chapters
1
What questions did Senator Merkley ask FBI Director Kash Patel about due process violations?
0:00–2:19
2
Why has FBI Director Kash Patel not submitted the FY2026 budget request?
2:19–4:03
3
How did Kash Patel respond emotionally during the budget hearing?
4:03–5:47
4
What was Senator Murphy's line of questioning to Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem?
5:47–6:47
5
How did Kristi Noem respond to questions about the Supreme Court ruling on Kilmar Obrego Garcia?
6:47–17:54
Speakers
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