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RFK Jr, Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel’s Senate confirmation hearings underway on Capitol Hill
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Donald Trump’s FBI director pick Kash Patel, Director of National Intelligence nominee Tulsi Gabbard and Ambassador to the United Nations hopeful Elise Stefanik are among a string of confirmation hearings happening in the Senate today.
Robert F Kennedy Jr has also returned to Capitol Hill for the second of his hearings. He is facing the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee as he hopes to persuade lawmakers to confirm him as Health and Human Services secretary. Yesterday, while facing the Senate Finance Committee, he was grilled by Democrats on historical statements he made about AIDS and Covid-19.
The meetings have gone ahead despite an American Airlines plane and U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter colliding in Washington, DC late on Wednesday, with officials believing that all 67 people aboard the separate aircraft had died.
The president, who was fully briefed on the situation on Wednesday evening, said on his Truth Social platform that the crash “should have been prevented,” as he lamented over the victims on what he called a “terrible night”.
Trump will speak about the incident at 11 a.m. ET.
Sen. Bill Cassidy remains deeply skeptical about what Robert F Kennedy Jr would do concerning vaccinations if he is confirmed to lead the Department of Health and Human Services.
At the conclusion of the hearing, the Louisiana Republican approached Kennedy for a brief handshake and exchange after once again expressing deep skepticism about whether Kennedy would promote vaccinations through the Department of Health and Human Services.
Cassidy said that his experience as a physician has shown him how imperative it is to stress the life-saving powers of vaccines.
With reporting by the Associated Press
During questioning from Peter Welch, Vermont Democratic Senator, Patel repeatedly refused to say that Biden won the 2020 election.
“Can you say the words Joe Biden won the 2020 election?” Welch asked.
“Joe Biden was the president of the United States,” Patel responded.
“I can say the words Donald Trump won. I don’t like to say it, but I must say it,” said Welch. “And you cannot say that Joe Biden won the election.”
“What I can say is the same for both of them, Senator, both of their elections were certified, and they are both… one was and one now is president,” said Patel.
Republican Missouri Sen. Eric Schmitt shared his support for Patel, saying, “You got a big job … but I have all the faith in the world, in you that you’re going to restore that trust because you believe in the rule of law, you have an incredible personal story. You’re going to get confirmed. And I wish you all the best, and you have my vote.”
The Senate Intelligence Committee has adjourned the confirmation hearing for Gabbard after nearly three hours.
Next up is a classified, closed session with the nominee, where members are able to question her more in-depth on issues that are sensitive and could not be broached in a public hearing.
Sen. Cotton, the chair, ended the public hearing by saying he hopes to quickly move to a committee vote on Gabbard. Some members have raised concerns about whether the vote will happen in public or behind closed doors. Some Trump supporters want it to be public so that any Republicans who vote against her will be immediately identified.
California Democratic Sen. Alex Padilla pushed Patel on his alleged connection to the Jan. 6 choir.
“Funds have been raised, as you explained to me in our meeting last week, to support families of insurrectionists, my words clearly not yours that have been in jail, including those who committed acts of violence against police officers,” said Padilla. “I want to note in any of your work around the J6 prison choir, was any of the funds that were raised used to support the families of the police officers who were brutally attacked by the insurrectionists?”
“My foundation has been used across the country,” said Patel. “I don’t know if those officers’ families applied for a grant, that’s how we distribute.”
“You can’t say clearly and confidently that families of police officers who were brutally attacked got similar support,” said Padilla.
Kennedy’s hearing concluded following a heated exchange with Sen. Bernie Sanders.
As the Vermont Independent pressed Trump’s nominee on his views regarding vaccines, Kennedy responded by stating that members of Congress, including Sanders, were receiving money from pharmaceutical companies.
This statement drew cheers and applause from Kennedy’s supporters in the room.
Sanders, however, would not let it stand. He shot back that he does not accept money from organizations or groups that represent the pharmaceutical industry.
Here’s that moment:
Republican Tennessee Sen. Marsha Blackburn finished her questioning by asking Patel: “As you prepare to take this new role, what are the top areas of concern for you as we look at our national security?”
“The top areas when it comes to national security … have remained unchanged, and the threat dynamic has increased,” said Patel. “It’s thwarting terrorist activities and terrorist attacks here and overseas against our citizens and our allies. And it also includes CCP espionage, which is running rampant these last five years through our country, including our cyber infrastructure and our agricultural properties.”
“And it also includes taking on Iran, the number one state sponsor of terror, and any other adversary that wishes to harm America,” he added.
Kennedy was pressed about recent statements he’s made threatening to fire staffers at the National Institutes of Health and other public health agencies.
Sen. Angela Alsobrooks asked Kennedy if there is a “watch list” of scientists who could be targeted for termination.
“Not that I know of,” Kennedy responded.
Alsobrooks is a Democrat representing Maryland, where NIH is headquartered. When she asked which federal scientists should be replaced, Kennedy said: “the ones who are corrupt.”
And for the second day in a row, Kennedy falsely accused NIH of quashing research into multiple causes of Alzheimer’s. The NIH’s $3.8 billion budget for Alzheimer’s and similar dementias funds researching a range of factors that may contribute to the disease.
New Jersey Democratic Sen. Cory Booker pressed Kash Patel on the recent firings of prosecutors at the Department of Justice involved in investigations of Trump.
“Are you aware of any plans or discussions to punish in any way, including termination, of FBI agents or personnel associated with Trump investigations?” Booker asked.
“I am not aware,” the nominee said.
Booker went on to question Patel regarding the investigation into Trump’s alleged mishandling of classified documents.
“What are you hiding from Congress? Answer the question: did you testify to witnessing the President of the United States declassifying documents? Yes or no?” Booker asked repeatedly.
“Senator, the grand jury testimony is available to you. I encourage you to make it public,” said Patel.
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