House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, D-N.Y., has warned that Democrats may withhold support for renewing key U.S. surveillance powers as long as FBI Director Kash Patel remains in office.
Jeffries, a frequent critic of Patel, stated that the upcoming expiration of Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act could be leveraged to pressure for leadership changes at the bureau.
“We’re going to continue to make clear that Kash Patel’s continued presence as the FBI director is going to make bipartisan common ground on the FISA 702 question extremely difficult,” Jeffries told reporters at the Capitol.
Jeffries said he spoke Wednesday morning with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., about the path forward, pointing to “the need to find common ground there if we’re going to proceed.”
“But I made clear, as we’ve made clear publicly, there’s a trust situation that we confront on FISA 702,” he said.
“We recognize that in the abstract, it’s an important tool to help keep the American people safe from foreign terrorist actors. At the same period of time, there is zero reason for us to trust Kash Patel,” Jeffries continued.
“Why is he still around as the FBI director? He is clearly and deeply flawed and unqualified, and many Republicans know it.”
Section 702 allows U.S. intelligence agencies to collect communications from foreign targets overseas, though critics have long raised concerns about incidental collection involving Americans. Those privacy concerns — combined now with Democratic opposition to Patel — have complicated negotiations for the renewal of the surveillance authority.
GOP leaders moved last week to buy time by passing a short-term 10-day extension of the authority amid the ongoing impasse.
Some Democrats who previously supported FISA reauthorization are now voicing new concerns under the Trump administration, citing fears of potential abuse.
The debate intensified following a report from The Atlantic alleging Patel was at times difficult to reach and that his alcohol use had been a “recurring source of concern across the government.” The report also stated Patel once struggled to access his government computer, sparking fears he was about to be fired.
Patel has forcefully denied the allegations, recently filing a $250 million defamation lawsuit against the magazine and pushing back against what he called biased media coverage.
“I can say unequivocally that I never listen to the fake news mafia, and as when they get louder, it just means I’m doing my job,” Patel said.
Responding to video showing him celebrating with the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team, Patel defended his conduct: “I’m on the job. I’m the first one in. I’m the last one out.”
“I’m like an everyday American who loves his country, loves the sport of hockey, and champions my friends when they raise a gold medal and invite me in to celebrate. I’ve never been intoxicated on the job.”
