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Trump FBI Pick Kash Patel Angrily Hits Back at QAnon Conspiracy Claims

The defiant nominee backtracks on some previous statements.

Kash Patel strenuously denied backing the QAnon cult and its “baseless” conspiracy theories as he backpedaled on some previous statements in a contentious confirmation hearing on Capitol Hill.

Donald Trump’s pick for FBI director faced a flurry of accusations from Democrat senators claiming he had targeted “deep state” political opponents and the “fake mafia media,” branded the Capitol Police officers on January 6 “cowards in uniform” and said the FBI headquarters should be shut down and turned into a museum.

Patel hit back, claiming the criticisms were “grotesquely unfair” and taken out of context and he insisted he would not seek any political retribution if he is confirmed.

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Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley said: “Some outside of this committee, and some people in this committee, have accused you of promoting the QAnon movement.

“Are you a follower or promoter of QAnon?” he asked Patel.

“No senator,” said the former Trump chief of staff at the Department of Defense. “In fact, I have publicly, including in interviews given to this committee, rejected outright QAnon baseless conspiracy theories or any other conspiracy theories.

“They must be addressed head-on with the truth.”

According to the New York Times, Patel said in a 2022 interview: “The Q thing is a movement a lot of people attach themselves to. I disagree with a lot of what that movement says, but I agree with a lot of what that movement says.”

In an opening statement, ranking Democrat member Dick Durban accused Patel of using terms like “deep state” and “government gangsters.”

QAnon followers espouse a view that Trump was fighting a secret war against a clandestine group of satanic cannibalistic elites from Hollywood, the Democrat Party and a “deep state” within the U.S. government.

When he was asked during the hearing about a photograph taken with far-right conspiracy theorist Laura Loomer, he said it was simply a case of a photograph being taken with a guest at a book event.

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Durban and fellow Democrat Sen. Richard Blumenthal accused Patel of promoting a recording by the January 6th choir, members of whom were reportedly serving jail sentences connected with the insurrection at the Capitol.

“You glorified, you promoted, you supported these individuals,” said Blumenthal. “I think the FBI deserves better.”

Defending his position on January 6, Patel said he “repeatedly, often publicly and privately, said there can never be a tolerance for violence against law enforcement and anyone that commits an act of violence against law enforcement must be investigated, prosecuted and imprisoned.”

He said he had no intention to go backward when asked if he planned to investigate former Biden officials and insisted the FBI would not be politicized.

“The president has said publicly that he will allow the FBI to remain independent, and I have said as much as well,” he said.

“I would never do anything, unconstitutional or unlawful and I never have in my 16 years of government service.”

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David GardnerChief National Correspondent

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