Kash Patel claims to have never heard of right-wing conspiracy theorist

Sign up for the daily Inside Washington email for exclusive US coverage and analysis sent to your inbox Get our free Inside Washington email Get our free Inside Washington email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy President Donald Trump’s nominee to be the next FBI director, Kash Patel, claimed during his confirmation hearing on Thursday that he had never heard of a right-wing conspiracy theorist – before being reminded that he's appeared on his show eight times. Patel arrived on Capitol Hill for his hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where he was asked by ranking member Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin about his knowledge of Stew Peters, a far-right podcaster. Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's choice to be director of the FBI, listens as Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, gives opening statements before Patel's Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing at the Capitol in Washington, Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. Your actions must be based on accountability, and transparency brings accountability.” He added: “Should you do so, you'll have my support, and remember, either you're going to run your agency or the agency's going to run you, and the agency certainly ended up running Director Wray, and probably people before him.” The ranking member, Democratic Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin, slammed Patel in his own opening statement, saying, “Since 1935, the motto of the FBI has been fidelity, bravery, integrity.