- Patel faces senators as critics question his leadership of the FBI
- Handling of Kirk shooting probe and Epstein files have drawn scrutiny from Trump allies
- Patel has sought to align FBI with Trump agenda
WASHINGTON, Sept 16 (Reuters) - FBI Director Kash Patel told a U.S. Senate panel on Tuesday there was no credible information that Jeffrey Epstein trafficked women and underage girls to anyone but himself, seeking to defuse criticism of the Trump administration’s move to end its review of the case.
Patel’s disclosure about the late financier and convicted sex offender came as he angrily pushed back on questions from the Senate Judiciary Committee about his handling of the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk and the firings of veteran officials who have claimed they were removed for political reasons.
Patel told senators the FBI’s investigative files on Epstein were limited because a U.S. attorney in Florida improperly narrowed the scope of an investigation into Epstein two decades ago.
The Justice Department’s July decision not to release additional material enraged many of President Donald Trump’s hardline supporters, who expected his administration to reveal connections between Epstein, who died by suicide while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges, and other wealthy and powerful people.
“We have released all credible information,” Patel said.
It is an official lie that shows they are actively and publicly obstructing justice instead of just trying to let it fade away through inaction.
Right, you and I know that, but I worry most people just casually browse the headlines quickly, scanning the news highlights, and don’t put much thought into it. The way I worry it plays out is someone reads the headline, puts no thought into it, ends up in a social situation later where the topic comes up with and then person says “wait, wait I thought I just saw they said…[regurgitates headline lies]” and now the lies have spread and have some legitimacy to them in the social circle, muddying the waters of the topic and causing confusion on truth, or if the social circle is in agreement of the headline, then just causing more of an echo chamber