Senate Republican Begins FBI Nominee Kash Patel's Hearing With New Jack Smith Emails

Sen. Chuck Grassley opened the confirmation of Kash Patel for FBI director by revealing several emails regarding investigations into President Trump.

"I have in my hand a series of FBI emails," Grassley said, holding up a binder.

The emails were sent from Timothy Thibault who has been accused of political bias by Republicans, TIME reported.

The emails showed communication between Thibault regarding different investigations including by former special prosecutor Jack Smith. By opening the hearing with the emails Grassley seemed to be suggesting that the FBI and justice department had acted in a partisian manner.

Patel has routinely critized the FBI as being part of the "deep state."

Grassley ended his opening telling Katel to be accountable and transparent. "Either your going to run your agency or the agency is going to run you," Grassley said, adding that the agency had clearly run previous FBI director Christopher Wray.