By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/watch-patel-says-fbi-will-not-be-weaponized-anymore-on-either-side-of-the-aisle Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter WATCH: Patel says ‘FBI will not be weaponized anymore’ on either side of the aisle Politics Sep 16, 2025 11:01 AM EDT Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked FBI Director Kash Patel what steps the agency was taking to make sure “improperly predicated investigations and weaponizations” don’t happen. Watch the clip in the video player above. “The FBI will only bring cases that are based in fact and law and have a legal basis to do so, and anyone that does otherwise will not be employed at the FBI,” Patel said in a hearing Tuesday focused on his leadership over the nation’s top law enforcement agency. WATCH LIVE: FBI Director Patel appears at Senate hearing amid criticism over Kirk probe The FBI director added that a “prospective and retrospective analysis” is underway of people who may have been weaponized the agency. “As I’ve committed to you during my confirmation hearing and my conversations with you, this FBI will not be weaponized anymore in either side of the aisle,” he said. READ MORE: Fired FBI officials sue Patel, claiming he bowed to Trump’s ‘campaign of retribution’ Last week, three former high-ranking FBI officials sued Patel, alleging they were fired in August as part of a “campaign of retribution” and that the director knew it was “likely illegal” to remove workers based on the cases they investigated. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now By — Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas Joshua Barajas is a senior editor for the PBS NewsHour's Communities Initiative. He's also the senior editor and manager of newsletters. @Josh_Barrage
Sen. Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, asked FBI Director Kash Patel what steps the agency was taking to make sure “improperly predicated investigations and weaponizations” don’t happen. Watch the clip in the video player above. “The FBI will only bring cases that are based in fact and law and have a legal basis to do so, and anyone that does otherwise will not be employed at the FBI,” Patel said in a hearing Tuesday focused on his leadership over the nation’s top law enforcement agency. WATCH LIVE: FBI Director Patel appears at Senate hearing amid criticism over Kirk probe The FBI director added that a “prospective and retrospective analysis” is underway of people who may have been weaponized the agency. “As I’ve committed to you during my confirmation hearing and my conversations with you, this FBI will not be weaponized anymore in either side of the aisle,” he said. READ MORE: Fired FBI officials sue Patel, claiming he bowed to Trump’s ‘campaign of retribution’ Last week, three former high-ranking FBI officials sued Patel, alleging they were fired in August as part of a “campaign of retribution” and that the director knew it was “likely illegal” to remove workers based on the cases they investigated. We're not going anywhere. Stand up for truly independent, trusted news that you can count on! Donate now