‘If you’re going to come at me …’: Kash Patel fires back at critics; denies missteps in Charlie Kirk probe

Tyler Robinson (L), Charlie Kirk (R), FBI Director Kash Patel.

FBI Director Kash Patel has launched a fiery defence of his leadership, rejecting accusations of incompetence over the bureau’s handling of the Charlie Kirk investigation and the recent purge of senior officials. Responding to mounting criticism, Patel wrote on X: “If you’re going to come at me, use facts. All you have is disinformation and lies. I’ll see you, prime time in front of the world. America deserves a better brand of justice, and I’m giving it to them. BRING IT.” The pushback came as Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats escalated their attacks, accusing Patel of driving out more than 5,000 FBI employees. In a post on X, they wrote: “KASH PATEL INCOMPETENCE EXPOSED … The inexperienced FBI Director has purged 5,000+ dedicated public servants from the FBI. And when Kash Patel is clearly so unfit to lead, it leaves our country unsafe.” They listed long-serving officials forced out under Patel, including Medal of Valour recipient Brian Driscoll and veteran cyber intelligence leader Mehtab Syed.Patel is due before the committee this week in his first major oversight hearing since taking office. He will face questions not only about the Kirk investigation but also about accusations that the bureau has been weaponised to serve political ends. His appearance comes at a time of deepening internal unrest, with three dismissed officials recently filing a federal lawsuit alleging their firings were illegal and politically motivated. The Kirk investigation has placed Patel under particular scrutiny. Just hours after the conservative activist was shot dead on a Utah college campus, Patel wrote on social media that “the subject” was in custody. In fact, the suspect, 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, remained at large until he turned himself in the following night. Patel has since pointed to his decision to release photographs of Robinson as crucial to the arrest, while critics seized on the premature announcement as evidence of his mismanagement.Republicans on the committee are expected to back Patel, a close ally of President Donald Trump, praising his emphasis on tackling violent crime and illegal immigration. Trump himself recently said the FBI had “done a great job” under Patel. But Democrats intend to press him on whether his leadership has politicised the bureau, citing a renewed inquiry into the Trump-Russia investigation and sweeping changes to FBI priorities.