Kash Patel said during his confirmation hearing for FBI director that there "can never be tolerance for violence" against law enforcement, while skirting questions about specific defendants.
Patel said that he rejected any violence against law enforcement. When asked about President Trump's pardons of nearly 1,600 Jan. 6 defendants, Patel said he would not agree with the commutation of any person who had committed violence against a member of law enforcement.
"I have not looked at all 1,600 cases," Patel said as Durbin drilled down on the issue.
Durbin specifically brought up the case of 42-year-old Matthew Huttle of Hobart, Indiana. After being pardoned, Huttle was killed in an altercation with police, USA Today reported. Huttle had been convicted of striking police officers with a flagpole in the Jan. 6 riots
The Senator from Illinois repeatedly asked if pardoning someone like Huttle made America safer. Patel repeatedly deflected, bringing up former President Biden's commutations rather than answering the question directly.
Durbin also brought up Patel's support of the J6 Choir. Patel said the choir was something that raised funds for the families of non-violent offenders.
"My understanding the Jan. 6 rioters were on the recording?" Durbin inquired.
"Not aware of who was on the recording," Patel responded.
"Interesting," Durbin remarked.
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