Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to lead the Federal Bureau of Investigation, presented his qualifications and vision for the bureau during a five-hour Senate Judiciary Committee hearing.

Patel, a former public defender, prosecutor, and senior national security official, emphasized his commitment to tackling violent crime, exposing government corruption, and restoring public trust in the FBI.

During the hearing, Patel highlighted his two main priorities if confirmed: empowering law enforcement officers and addressing the erosion of public confidence in the agency.

He pointed to rising violent crime statistics, including high rates of drug overdoses, homicides, and sexual offenses, as key areas where the FBI must take decisive action.

"I’m going to let good cops be cops and put handcuffs on the bad guys," Patel told the committee.

Patel also addressed concerns over the public’s declining trust in the FBI, citing Gallup poll data that shows only 41 percent of Americans currently have confidence in the bureau.

He attributed this decline to past leadership failures and stressed the need for transparency and collaboration with Congress to restore credibility.

"It is a cataclysmic failure in leadership to get to that point," Patel said, pledging to work with lawmakers to implement reforms.

Throughout the hearing, Patel faced questions about his stance on government transparency, including his involvement in past investigations into the origins of the Trump-Russia probe while working with the House Intelligence Committee.

He assured lawmakers of his dedication to holding government institutions accountable, stating that his leadership would focus on exposing any corruption while maintaining rigorous legal standards.

Patel’s nomination has drawn strong support from key Republican figures, including Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, who praised his extensive background and leadership abilities.

Grassley described Patel as "the right change agent for the FBI," noting his experience managing large intelligence and defense bureaucracies and tackling national security threats.

Grassley also highlighted Patel’s efforts to promote government accountability during his previous roles.

However, the hearing was not without contention.

Democratic senators, including Dick Durbin and Sheldon Whitehouse, pressed Patel on issues related to his past testimony in investigations involving classified documents and his stance on controversial topics, including pardons for January 6 defendants.

Patel reiterated his commitment to law enforcement and maintained that he had always operated within legal parameters.

Patel also emphasized the importance of addressing broader national security concerns, such as drug trafficking and violent crime, which he argued are essential to ensuring the nation’s safety.

"America will be safe when we don’t have 200,000 drug overdoses in two years.

America will be safe when we don’t have 50 homicides a day," Patel said.

His nomination has garnered endorsements from dozens of former FBI agents and national security officials who have cited his experience and leadership as essential for revitalizing the agency.

In a letter to Senate leadership, the former agents described Patel as a principled leader with the ability to implement necessary reforms.

Patel concluded the hearing by reaffirming his dedication to depoliticizing the FBI, restoring public trust, and ensuring that the bureau remains focused on its core mission of protecting national security and enforcing federal laws.

The Senate is expected to deliberate on his confirmation in the coming weeks.