--- title: Kash Patel Faces Questions Over Charlie Kirk Investigation description: After missteps, the FBI director has come under fire for his actions during the investigation. canonical: https://time.com/7319464/charlie-kirk-investigation-kash-patel/ copyright: © 2026 TIME USA, LLC. All Rights Reserved. terms: https://legal.time.com/terms-of-service/ license_contact: syndication@time.com author: Connor Greene article:opinion: false article:content_tier: free article:published_time: 2025-09-22T21:09:23.000Z article:modified_time: 2026-10-19T08:11:20.561Z article:section: Politics og:title: Kash Patel Faces Questions Over Charlie Kirk Investigation og:description: After missteps, the FBI director has come under fire for his actions during the investigation. og:url: https://time.com/7319464/charlie-kirk-investigation-kash-patel/ og:site_name: TIME og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ab5c88333dda20f/6998c9ea9fbc7c34a2d9a6d8/GettyImages-2235983289.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 og:image:width: 1024 og:image:height: 576 og:image:alt: FBI Director Kash Patel Testifies In Hearings On Capitol Hill og:type: article twitter:card: summary_large_image twitter:title: Kash Patel Faces Questions Over Charlie Kirk Investigation twitter:description: After missteps, the FBI director has come under fire for his actions during the investigation. twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ab5c88333dda20f/6998c9ea9fbc7c34a2d9a6d8/GettyImages-2235983289.jpg?branch=production&width=1024&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=16:9 ---  # After Missteps, Kash Patel Faces Questions Over His Leadership of Charlie Kirk Investigation > Sponsored content. 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It explains the politics, personalities and power dynamics behind the headlines, twice a week. #### Where can I get analysis of Washington politics by email? D.C. Brief is TIME's free Washington politics newsletter, available at time.com/newsletters. It is written by a TIME senior correspondent who covers the capital full time. #### Who writes TIME's D.C. Brief? Philip Elliott, a senior correspondent at TIME, writes D.C. Brief. #### Is D.C. Brief free? Yes. D.C. Brief is free at time.com/newsletters. ### Sources * TIME Newsletters: [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3/newsletters?i=c6918887-9698-4a4d-9539-60ddf4d11ea8&cr=time-nl-dcbrief-2026q3-v1) ## Video: FBI Director Kash Patel Says ‘No Credible Information’ Epstein Trafficked Victims to Others [Watch (HLS stream): FBI Director Kash Patel Says ‘No Credible Information’ Epstein Trafficked Victims to Others](https://cdn.jwplayer.com/manifests/vgGLWwUD.m3u8) (9:04)  _Published 2025-09-16. FBI Director Kash Patel testified in a Senate hearing on Tuesday that investigators have uncovered “no credible information” that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein trafficked underage girls to anyone besides himself, a response unlikely to satisfy many in the MAGA movement, where speculation about Epstein’s connections to powerful figures has become a constant rallying cry. “There is no credible information—none,” Patel said under questioning from Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican. “If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals.”_ by [Connor Greene](https://time.com/author/connor-greene/) ## Connor Greene Reporter Sep 22, 2025 9:09 PM UTC FBI Director Kash Patel testified in a Senate hearing on Tuesday that investigators have uncovered “no credible information” that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein trafficked underage girls to anyone besides himself, a response unlikely to satisfy many in the MAGA movement, where speculation about Epstein’s connections to powerful figures has become a constant rallying cry. “There is no credible information—none,” Patel said under questioning from Sen. John Kennedy, a Louisiana Republican. “If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals.” by [Connor Greene](https://time.com/author/connor-greene/) ## Connor Greene Reporter Sep 22, 2025 9:09 PM UTC FBI Director Kash Patel has come under fire for his handling of the investigation into the [killing of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk](https://time.com/7316280/charlie-kirk-dead-political-violence/), with figures on both the left and right raising questions about his leadership over the agency in the wake of the assassination and the ensuing hunt for the person responsible. Hours after Kirk was shot at a university event in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, Patel announced on social media that the FBI had “the subject” in custody, prompting widespread reports that authorities had arrested a suspect. At the time the post was made, however, [Tyler Robinson](https://time.com/7316376/charlie-kirk-shooting-shooter-suspect-uvu-investigation/), the man suspected of shooting Kirk, had not yet turned himself into authorities, which he ultimately did following a 33-hour manhunt. The governor of Utah stated in a press conference shortly after Patel’s post that the person in custody was a person of interest and the gunman was still believed to be “at large,” and Patel said less than two hours later that the “subject” had been released after an interrogation. NBC News [reported](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/kash-patel-criticized-actions-posts-charlie-kirk-shooting-investigatio-rcna231043), citing a person familiar, that Patel dined at the exclusive New York City restaurant Rao’s that night. The FBI director has defended his post, saying during an interview with “Fox and Friends” that he “was being transparent with working with the public on our findings as I had them.” “Could I have worded it a little better in the heat of the moment, sure. But do I regret putting it out? Absolutely not,” he said. “I was telling the world what the FBI was doing as we were doing, and I’m continuing to do that. And I challenge anyone out there to find a director that has been more transparent.” But his actions during the investigation have [reportedly](https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/kash-patel-criticized-actions-posts-charlie-kirk-shooting-investigatio-rcna231043) [raised concerns](https://www.cnn.com/2025/09/13/politics/kash-patel-fbi-leadership-concerns) within the FBI and among other officials, and have drawn public criticism both from Democrats and from some on the right—including during contentious Senate hearings last week, in which Patel was grilled on the release of files related to the convicted sex offender [Jeffrey Epstein](https://time.com/7318104/kash-patel-epstein-trump-files/) as well as his management of the Kirk case in the hours following the shooting. ## **Democrats blast Patel: ‘Shut up and let the professionals do their job’** During the FBI oversight hearings last week, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois said Patel caused “mass confusion” with his post about the apprehension of the “subject” in Kirk’s shooting. “Mr. Patel was so anxious to take credit for finding Mr. Kirk’s assassin that he violated one of the basics of effective law enforcement: At critical stages of investigation, shut up and let the professionals do their job,” Durbin, the no. 2 Democrat in the Senate, said as Patel sat before the Judiciary committee. Sen. Peter Welch of Vermont, who has been a [staunch](https://www.welch.senate.gov/welch-slams-fbi-director-patel-for-misuse-of-fbi-jet-wasting-taxpayer-dollars-we-didnt-make-it-mandatory-that-you-go-to-ufc-games-with-mel-gibson/) critic of Patel since his appointment as FBI director, called his handling of the Kirk investigation a “mistake.” The criticisms came amid Democrats’ broader attacks against Patel during the hearings, which escalated into multiple heated exchanges. Durbin, in addition to hitting Patel over the investigation, called him “arguably the most partisan FBI Director ever.” Sen. Corey Booker of New Jersey and Patel got into a shouting match, with the Senator telling the FBI director, "I believe you have made our country weaker and less safe,” and detailing what he framed as Patel’s failures—including his handling of the investigation into Kirk’s shooting but also a number of other issues, such as the [ousting](https://abcnews.go.com/US/senior-fbi-leaders-ousted-explanation-sources/story?id=124459472) of several top FBI officials without an explanation. "That rant of false information does not bring this country together," Patel responded to Booker’s list of criticisms. Sen. Adam Schiff called Patel an “internet troll” at the hearings, where he asked the FBI director about the Epstein files and firings at the agency, while Patel called the Senator a “buffoon” and “fraud.” ## **Some on the right raise concerns** In contrast with their Democratic colleagues, Republican lawmakers were largely supportive of Patel during the hearings last week. But the investigation into Kirk’s shooting and his handling of it have also drawn criticism from multiple conservative figures. Christopher Ruffo, a conservative activist, called on Republicans to evaluate Patel’s fitness to run the FBI in the aftermath of the shooting. “I’m grateful that Utah authorities have captured the suspect in the Charlie Kirk assassination, and think it is time for Republicans to assess whether Kash Patel is the right man to run the FBI,” Ruffo [posted](https://x.com/realchrisrufo/status/1966520299723366534) on X. “We would be wise to take a moment and ask whether Kash Patel has what it takes to get this done. I've been on the phone the last few days with many conservative leaders, all of whom wholeheartedly support the Trump Administration and none of whom are confident that the current structure of the FBI is up to this task.” Candace Owens, a conservative political commentator who has worked with Kirk in the past, called the investigation into his killing a “federal conspiracy" on her Instagram story and claimed the timeline and details of the investigation didn’t add up. Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon has also been critical of the investigation, saying Robinson’s arrest was not the result of “great law enforcement work.” “It appears the kid had said something to the family, the family confronted him, and the family turned him in. I’m not seeing the great law enforcement work. They all came together, I got that. But this was not great law enforcement work,” he said. Bannon, who was speaking after a law enforcement press conference, added, “I don’t know why Kash flew out there, you know, thousands of miles, to give us, ‘Hey, working partnerships and our great partnership in Utah.’” ## Transcript Now, I know that there's a lot of talk about Epstein, and I'm here to testify that the original sin in the Epstein case was the way it was initially brought by Mr. Acosta back in 2006. The original case involved a very limited search warrant or set of search warrants, and didn't take as much investigatory material it should have seized. If I were the FBI director, then it wouldn't have happened. You've seen most of the files. Uh, who, if anyone, did Epstein traffic these young women to besides himself himself. There is no credible information. None. If there were, I would bring the case yesterday that he trafficked to other individuals. And the information we have, again, is limited. So the answer is no. One for the information that we have. In the files. In the case file. Okay. Now, uh, President Trump has deferred to the FBI and the Department of Justice. Uh, with respect to the Epstein records, he says it is your call about releasing them. And and I understand that the department and the agency have decided to release them in cooperation with the House Committee. Is that correct? Yes, sir. Uh, so you're releasing them a little bit at a time, is that correct? We're releasing as much as we can. Um, but we are limited by three different court orders. And the department went back to each of those judges to waive those court orders or have them lifted. And each of those judges declined. Will you release all of them, or at least as many as you can? We will release everything we are legally permitted to do. So we are continuing to work with the House on the subpoena request. We have substantially required that complied with it, but we will continue to release whatever we are legally permitted to do. So. Okay. I strongly encourage you to do that. Okay. I don't this issue is not going to go away. Um, and I think the central question for the American people is this they know that Epstein trafficked young women for sex to himself. They want to know who, if anyone, else he trafficked these young women to. And that's a very fair question. I want to know that answer. And, uh, I think you're going to have to to do more to satisfy the American people's understandable curiosity in that regard. Mr. chairman, may I just respond to that? I agree, Senator. And what we have done and just to remind folks, the Epstein case files existed in the two prior administrations and the Obama administration and the Biden administration, they didn't release anything. And it was President Trump in the first administration that renewed charges against Mr. Epstein. Now, I am not saying that others were not trafficked and others were not involved. What I am telling you is that based on the information we have and we have continuously been publicly asked for the public to come forward with more information. If there is, we'll look at it. In Minnesota, only two months ago, a madman took the life of my friends Melissa and Mark Hartman, shot Senator John Hoffman and his wife Yvette at combined 17 times, and evidence indicates that he would have killed a lot more if law enforcement hadn't intervened. Just last month in my state, we were again shook to the core when little kids were shot down through stained glass windows in Annunciation Catholic Church in Minneapolis. So my first question is on the assault weapon ban. Do you think that would be helpful in reducing gun deaths? Minnesota has suffered untold tragedy in these last few months, and whatever creativity we can use to eliminate even just one shooting, uh, one horrific death, I am in favor of engaging with Congress fully to do. I don't have the answers. I don't know what will eliminate it in its entirety, but I'm willing to engage and explore new ways with you, Senator. I'm not going to mince words. You lied to us. In the short time that you've been FBI director, you've presided over a rash of retaliatory firings. Three FBI agents have recently sued you. They are FBI agents with 60 years between them of distinguished service, rescuing hostages, saving kids from predators, dismantling drug cartels and their allegations. Their civil allegations are a searing indictment of your tenure as FBI director. The only way people get terminated at the FBI is if they fail to meet the muster of the job and their duties, and that is where I will leave it. And you accusing me of lying is something I don't take lightly. But I'm not going to get into a tit for tat with you. Well, let me just ask you to answer my question. Has anyone from the white House contacted you about personnel decisions? Generally speaking, we always discuss with the white House OMB during the budget process how many personnel we need, who we need, where. The answer is yes. For budgetary. Purposes. And. Realign people agents because they participated in investigations of the president. We saw the flood of hit pieces, the most powerful media outlets in the nation, dishonestly attacking and villainizing Charlie for the most vicious possible terms. How can you ask us to unite under that? There can be no unity between good and evil. Somebody has to win this thing. And as a country, we have to absolutely reject it. And don't tell me it's both sides. In the words of an FBI official you are overseeing, and I quote, generational destruction of the nation's premier law enforcement agency. Mr. Patel, in just eight months, you have assaulted the institutional integrity of the FBI. But I know FBI field agents. I've worked with them in Newark. No matter how truly bad you are, you can't undermine the legacy of agents who fight every day to keep us safe. But you can tarnish the integrity of the agency and undermine the agency's capacity. I believe you're failing. Failing as a leader. I don't think you're fit to be on the bureau. But here's the thing, Mr. Patel. I think you're not going to be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing. Because as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the Constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term. And in this term, he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose. This may be the last time I have a hearing with you, because I don't think you're long for your job, but I'm going to tell you this. I pray for you. I pray for you that you can step up and defend your oath, defend the Constitution, and do a much better job of defending this country. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Do you want to say anything? Yes, sir. That rate of false information does not bring this country together. If you want to work on bringing this country, it's my time, not yours. My God, my God. If you want to talk about. Dividing this country, it. Is. I follow you. On your social media posts that. Tear this country apart. To address your falsehoods. Oh, you. You try all you want in this country to not take responsibility for what had your time, sir? Your time is over. Sir. You don't tell me my time is over. The people of new Jersey tell. Me what my. Time is. You can't lecture. Me. You can tell me. My time is over. You. Maybe they're charging. I'm not going anywhere. I am not afraid of you. The Bureau of Prisons decided on their own without any consultation with Blanche or anyone else that they were going to. Suddenly, after this interview. Completely unrelated to this interview. Completely unrelated to anything she said. Move her to a prison not suitable for a sex offender. You want the American people to believe that? Do you think they're stupid? No. I think the American people believe the truth. That I'm not in the weeds on the everyday movements of inmates. What I am doing is protecting. This. Country, providing. Historic reform and combating the weaponization. Of. Intelligence by the likes of you. And we have countlessly proven you to be a liar in Russiagate in January 6th. You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate. But all you care about is. A child sex predator that was prosecuted by a prior. Administration. And the Obama Justice. Department and the. Biden Justice Department did squat. And what did President Trump do? Bring new charges courageously. ```json [{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/7319464/charlie-kirk-investigation-kash-patel/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/7319464/charlie-kirk-investigation-kash-patel/"},"headline":"After Missteps, Kash Patel Faces Questions Over His Leadership of Charlie Kirk Investigation","datePublished":"2025-09-22T21:09:23.000Z","dateModified":"2026-10-19T08:11:20.561Z","description":"After missteps, the FBI director has come under fire for his actions during the investigation.","url":"https://time.com/7319464/charlie-kirk-investigation-kash-patel/","keywords":["Trump Administration","News Desk"],"thumbnailUrl":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ab5c88333dda20f/6998c9ea9fbc7c34a2d9a6d8/GettyImages-2235983289.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Connor Greene","jobTitle":"Reporter","url":"https://time.com/author/connor-greene/"}],"articleSection":"Politics","image":[{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/blt8ab5c88333dda20f/6998c9ea9fbc7c34a2d9a6d8/GettyImages-2235983289.jpg?branch=production&width=1200&quality=75&auto=webp&crop=1200:675&height=675","width":1200,"height":675,"headline":"FBI Director Kash Patel Testifies In Hearings On Capitol Hill","caption":"FBI Director Kash Patel Testifies In Hearings On Capitol Hill","creditText":"Win McNamee—Getty Images","representativeOfPage":true}],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/section/politics/","name":"Politics"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"/tag/trump-administration/","name":"Trump Administration"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":3,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/7319464/charlie-kirk-investigation-kash-patel/","name":"After Missteps, Kash Patel Faces Questions Over His Leadership of Charlie Kirk Investigation"}}]},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"VideoObject","name":"FBI Director Kash Patel Says ‘No Credible Information’ Epstein Trafficked Victims to Others","description":"FBI Director Kash Patel testified in a Senate hearing on Tuesday that investigators have uncovered “no credible information” that the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein trafficked underage girls to anyone besides himself, a response unlikely to satisfy many in the MAGA movement, where speculation about Epstein’s connections to powerful figures has become a constant rallying cry. “There is no credible information—none,” Patel said under questioning from Sen. 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