Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Demanding Kash Patel Resign As FBI Director

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor calling for Kash Patel to resign immediately as FBI Director in light of reports detailing his misconduct on the job, which is dangerous, distracting and undermines the mission of the FBI. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Every day Kash Patel remains in this job is another day that undermines the FBI and its mission.

Take yesterday's press conference. The head of the FBI, the nation's top law enforcement officer, spent the entire time getting into fights with reporters about his alleged drunken behavior, about his partying, his fitness for the job. This has all become a dangerous, unacceptable distraction for the FBI which has so much important work to do.

Donald Trump has led us to war right now against Iran, a nation known for sophisticated cyberattacks. Why is Kash Patel not focused on that? Why is Kash Patel not focused on the serious threats facing this country?

Every day these stories of misconduct persist, they undermine the mission of the FBI. Every day these questions about Patel, his behavior, his character linger, they weaken confidence in the leadership of one of the most important law enforcement agencies in the world.

Kash Patel must resign immediately. He is not a serious person. He has not shown that he has the skills required for the job. And the last few days have shown that he does not have the judgment to lead an agency like the FBI. This is what happens when Trump just chooses acolytes, people who suck up to him for important jobs. That shouldn't be any criteria in choosing the head of the FBI. But instead, it seems to be Trump's only criteria, and it puts him in trouble, it puts him in the hot seat, in the frying pan over and over again by choosing people whose only criteria is loyalty is to him.

Americans deserve steady, sober leadership from their FBI Director, especially during a time of war. Kash Patel is not it. And if Kash Patel wants to keep partying, he can do it somewhere else, without putting the safety of the American people on the line.

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