Booker-Grassley Shouting Match Erupts at Patel FBI Hearing

A Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on FBI oversight descended into a shouting match Tuesday between Chairman Chuck Grassley and Senator Cory Booker after Booker accused FBI Director Kash Patel of stonewalling and intimidating journalists. The confrontation occurred as Patel testified before the committee, with Grassley repeatedly telling Booker his time had expired. During the hearing, Booker alleged that Patel's FBI was pressuring and harassing journalists, specifically referencing an investigation into a New York Times reporter. "We don't have an FBI director, we have a lackey here who's using government," Booker said, calling Patel "an incompetent lackey" and "an embarrassment to the agency." Booker claimed Patel was using a "little book" to intimidate people "in the same way he intimidates reporters." Patel defended the FBI's actions, stating the bureau is not targeting reporters but is trying to find government leakers of classified information. "We are not targeting reporters at any point in time," Patel said. "We are trying to find out who in the government" is leaking classified material. The exchange escalated when Grassley informed Booker his time was up.