Alex Padilla U.S. Senator for California

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, U.S. Senator Alex Padilla (D-Calif.), a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, joined Committee Democrats in sounding the alarm on Kash Patel’s reckless nomination to be Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Padilla delivered remarks ahead of Patel’s confirmation vote at a press conference outside FBI headquarters in Washington, D.C. and in a speech on the Senate floor. Patel was confirmed as FBI Director this afternoon by a final vote of 51-49.

During the press conference this morning, Padilla raised serious concerns about Patel’s lack of judgement, independence, and preparedness to protect Americans and uphold the Constitution. He also condemned President Trump’s pattern of selecting unfit and unqualified candidates like Patel for senior positions in his administration.

• “Only in the year 2025 — when President Trump has the Republican Party basically in a headlock — can an extreme nominee like Kash Patel be put forward with the support of the President and seemingly the support of Republicans in the Senate.”

• “This isn’t just politics. There is a real threat to the safety of Americans in every community across the country. If he is confirmed, the purging of law enforcement will continue. If he is confirmed, this department will be weaponized, as he has threatened to do. If he is confirmed, Americans will be less safe.”

On the Senate floor, Padilla called out Patel’s extreme loyalty to President Trump over his duty to oversee the nation’s premier law enforcement agency.

• “Here we are, pretending as if a man who promised to shut down the FBI headquarters on day one and turn it into a museum for the ‘Deep State’ is now fit to lead the FBI. You see, time and again, Kash Patel has shown that his loyalty lies not with the rule of law, but with Donald Trump.”

• “When it comes to protecting the security of our nation, there is no room between patriotism and patronage. The American people need and deserve a public servant who is 100 percent committed to the around-the-clock safety of the American people. Unfortunately, through his actions over the course of the last several years, [and] his conduct this past month before the Judiciary Committee, Kash Patel has demonstrated a dangerous lack of judgment, lack of preparation, and lack of independence.”

Padilla blasted Patel for possibly lying under oath during his confirmation hearing. Despite swearing that he had no role in the firing of career FBI employees, whistleblowers have exposed Patel’s direct involvement in the mass purge of law enforcement professionals. Earlier this month, Padilla demanded answers from Patel on the removal or reassignment of career law enforcement officials across the Department of Justice and the FBI.

Padilla also warned that Patel has openly advocated for unprecedented and reckless actions, including weaponizing the Justice Department to target political opponents and journalists, profiting from conspiracy theories about a “Deep State,” promoting an “enemies list” of public servants, and even selling picture books to children to spread disinformation about the 2016 election. He also called out Patel’s alarming refusal during his confirmation hearing to commit to enforcing existing gun laws that save lives.

• “Colleagues, stretching the truth — or potentially outright lying — may score him points with President Trump, but as Director of the FBI, it will only put American lives at risk. Think about it. To all the Americans who might be watching from home: you wouldn’t put an arsonist in charge of the fire department, would you? But with Kash Patel at the top of the FBI, that’s exactly what we’d get.”

Padilla cautioned that confirming Patel would set a “dangerous precedent,” further eroding public safety and trust in law enforcement. He urged Senate Republicans to oppose his confirmation.

• “When a loyalist FBI Director abuses the position and fails to protect the American people, it won’t just be Kash Patel that will be held accountable. It won’t just be President Trump we will try to hold accountable. It will be every member of this body who supported his nomination that will also be held accountable.”

Earlier this month, Senator Padilla and his Democratic colleagues on the Senate Judiciary Committee spoke out against Kash Patel’s nomination and urged their Republican colleagues to oppose him. During Patel’s confirmation hearing, Padilla raised serious concerns about his fitness to lead the FBI.

Video of Padilla’s full remarks at today’s press conference is available here and can be downloaded here. Video of Padilla’s full floor remarks is available here and can be downloaded here.