Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the FBI said Thursday that he disagreed with the president’s decision to end the criminal sentences of Jan. 6 defendants who committed violence against police.
“I do not agree with the commutation of any sentence of any individual who committed violence against law enforcement,” Kash Patel said during questioning by the Senate Judiciary Committee.
He added that “I have always advocated for imprisoning those” who cause “harm to our law enforcement and civilian communities.”
Patel also claimed he was unaware of the members of the “J6 Choir,” a group of Jan. 6 offenders incarcerated for violence against police, despite promoting their recorded rendition of the national anthem. In a 2023 Truth Social post, however, Patel indicated he was aware that the members included incarcerated defendants.
