"Mr. Patel has precisely the qualifications we need at this time when the FBI is not being respected by our public," Grassley said in his opening statements.

Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) said that since much of Kash Patel’s confirmation hearing so far has focused on President Donald Trump’s clemency grants to people convicted in connection with the Jan. 6, 2021, assault on the Capitol, “it’s important that we remind people at the same time of some pardons by the previous administration.”