Topic:Security Intelligence
Kash Patel faced the US Senate over his management of the FBI.(Reuters: Evan Vucci)
FBI director Kash Patel has been grilled by the US Senate for nearly five hours over his controversial management of the agency, including the ousting of experienced agents.
Mr Patel's time at the FBI has been marred by his firing of veteran employees with little explanation.
Appearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, Mr Patel defended his tenure, saying the US murder rate hadfallen to a 20-year low, according to FBI data.
Here are the main takeaways.
Mr Patel defended FBI investigators who worked on the Epstein files release, as part of the Congress-backed Epstein Files Transparency Act.
Survivors of the notorious sex offender said the FBI failed to investigate Jeffrey Epstein in1996 when the agency was notified of the first allegations.
More than 30 of Epstein's victims have now brought forward a lawsuit against the FBI, despite attempts by theTrump administration to dismiss the case.
The bipartisan vote is non-binding, but it reveals the sentiment surrounding Jeffrey Epstein within Donald Trump's own party. Here's how.
They've also criticised the administration for publishing unredacted personal information in the released files.
Mr Patel told the hearing that the FBI had complied with the Transparency Act and "produced three and a half million pages of documents for the first time ever".
"We've also repeatedly stated if there's new information, we want everyone to come forward so that we can analyse that information as to what is and isn't remaining," he said.
One of the stranger moments was when Mr Patel confirmed the FBI had quietly lifted restrictions on hiring applicants who were victims of bestiality in their childhood.
Similar changes were also made to those who had previously participated in prostitution.
