FBI Director Kash Patel faced tough questions from Senate Democrats as they pressed him on his agency’s handling of major investigations, such as the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk , and at times got into shouting matches with him.

The Trump appointee, who has been in his position since February, told the Senate Judiciary Committee at the beginning of a regularly scheduled Sept. 16 oversight hearing that he wasn’t leaving his job, and he told critics at the outset to “please, bring it on.”

Patel is a former Republican congressional aide and an outspoken supporter of President Donald Trump , who has criticized the FBI's past investigation into Trump's ties to Russia. Democrats opposed Patel's confirmation.

Republicans generally praised Patel during the hearing,

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