United States Senator Marsha Blackburn had a very specific request for Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation.
During Kashyap “Kash” Patel‘s Senate confirmation hearing on Thursday, the Tennessee Senator said she has worked on the case surrounding Jeffrey Epstein case for years and has requested the records be subpoenaed, but has faced alleged stonewalling.
“Will you work with me on this issue so we know who worked with Jeffrey Epstein in building these sex trafficking rings?” asked Blackburn, to which Patel responded “absolutely.”
According to Blackburn, the files would include information on who flew on Epstein’s plane and who collaborated with the wealthy financier to build an international sex-trafficking ring.
What files regarding the Jeffrey Epstein case have been released?
Various batches of documents related to the Epstein case have been released since the billionaire and disgraced financier was charged with sex trafficking in 2019. He died at the Metropolitan Correctional Center in New York awaiting trial.
The most recent batch of documents was released in January of 2024, highlighting the way the accused sex trafficker’s influence reached across multiple states. The hundreds of pages released in January were from a years-old lawsuit brought by one of Epstein’s alleged victims and included the names of some of his associates, witnesses and victims for the first time.
Among the most notable names mentioned in the documents were former presidents Bill Clinton and Donald Trump, but no wrongdoing was alleged. Others included Prince Andrew of Great Britain, famed magician David Copperfield and Ohio billionaire Leslie H. Wexner.
The first time Epstein was investigated in connection to the allegations of sex trafficking began in Palm Beach, Florida, in 2006, where it turned out dozens of girls, some as young as fourteen, had stories of being abused on his island in the Caribbean.
Epstein pleaded guilty in 2008 to a solicitation charge and an additional felony charge of procuring a minor for prostitution, in a deal that allowed him to traffic, rape and molest underage girls for 11 more years.
Jeffrey Epstein secret transcripts:Victim was asked, Do you know ‘you committed a crime?’
More:DeSantis signs bill meant to release secret 2006 Epstein grand jury documents
Who is Kash Patel, Donald Trump’s pick for FBI director?
Kashyap “Kash” Patel is a former federal prosecutor, national security official and staunch Donald Trump supporter. According to USA TODAY, Patel gave money to alleged rioters through his foundation and even helped produce the patriotic song featuring jailed Jan. 6 defendants that played at Trump campaign rallies.
Patel has been one of the leading figures in changing the narrative surrounding the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, reported USA TODAY.
In March, Patel claimed Democrats knew in advance that the 2021 attack was coming. He previously said that undercover FBI agents spurred rioters to enter the building and that the FBI planned the attack for months − a claim contradicted by a recent Justice Department Inspector General report.
Patel has also been criticized by Democrats and nonpartisan groups for lacking the experience to lead the FBI and for peddling conspiracy theories about federal government employees, the COVID-19 vaccine and more.
More:Kash Patel breaks with Trump on clemency for Jan. 6 violence against law enforcement
Contributing: USA TODAY
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service journalism for The Tennessean. Contact her at [email protected] or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @_leyvadiana
