FBI Director Kash Patel to testify before Senate panel as Democrats blast his record, FBI touts crime stats

September 15, 2026 / 6:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Democratic Sen. Dick Durbin, the Senate Judiciary Committee's ranking member, criticized Patel's handling of the FBI ahead of the hearing, pledging that Democrats will hold him accountable.

"Today, we find ourselves in a position where the FBI is expending immense resources to protect President Trump and deliver retribution to his enemies — but is diverting resources away from protecting the safety, security, and rights of ordinary Americans and their families," Durbin said in a statement. "During the Judiciary Committee's oversight hearing, Senate Democrats will hold Director Patel accountable for his failed leadership."

At the hearing, Democrats are expected to question Patel about a range of recent controversies at the FBI — including the departures of hundreds of staff from the bureau, the Justice Department's investigations into President Trump's political foes, the administration's immigration policies, the Epstein files and Patel's own use of FBI resources.

The FBI announced last month that violent crime in the U.S. dropped in 2025 at the fastest rate on record, with the nation's murder rate falling 18.1% to a decades-long low.

The Trump administration has touted those figures, linking them to the administration's hardline strategy on…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/