U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) questioned FBI Director Kash Patel during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing about political violence, the leak of the Supreme Court’s Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization decision, sextortion, and violent crime.
Senator Britt began by referencing remarks from Senator Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) on physical differences between men and women and their implications for sports standards. She stated, “I want to thank Senator Hirono for what she said, acknowledging that there are physical differences between men and women, talking about that women wouldn’t be able to do as many pull-ups [as men]…I think that she was making a case here that there should be different standards.
“There’s a thing called Title IX, and this is why we continue to say we should have biological men in men’s sports, and biological women in women’s sports … so, I look forward to utilizing that to talk to all of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle. Maybe they will stand with us in helping us protect women’s sports. I think [Sen. Hirono] made a great argument there for it.”
Britt cited several recent instances of political violence including two assassination attempts against President Trump, the murder of two Israeli staffers in Washington D.C., and the assassination of Charlie Kirk last week. She also quoted Vice President JD Vance: “If we want to stop political violence, like what happened to Charlie Kirk, we have to be honest about the people who are celebrating it and the people who are financing it.”
Addressing Director Patel, Britt asked: “What steps is the FBI taking to more aggressively crack down on those who promote, encourage, finance, [and] fund these types of engagements and this type of political violence?”
Patel responded by explaining how the FBI works with the Treasury Department: “Trace where the money came from, how these individuals paid for the training they received or the platforms they were using, and also how these individuals collectively got together in whatever groups they were on, on whatever social media sites they were on, to utilize clickbait to make money for their ideology.”
Britt expressed support for this approach: “We must get to the bottom of it. We must follow the money.” She then asked if any funding originated overseas; Patel confirmed some did.
Turning her attention to last year’s leak of a Supreme Court decision draft related to Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization—a case which ultimately overturned Roe v. Wade—Britt remarked: “I find that absolutely mind boggling, that we can’t figure out who leaked that opinion. We know it was done in attempts to undermine the process, and then the intimidation of the (Supreme Court) Justices occurred after that. Tell me what you can do as FBI Director to help us get to the bottom of what happened and actually hold someone accountable for their actions.”
Director Patel said that responsibility for investigating has shifted fully onto his agency: The Bureau remains committed “to finding out who was behind” releasing confidential information regarding court deliberations.
The discussion then moved toward online sextortion affecting minors across America—a concern highlighted by Britt when she noted parallels between digital abuse cases today versus traditional storefront crimes shut down swiftly by authorities nationwide.“If this were happening in a store front,” she said,“that store would be shut down no matter where it was coast-to-coast—and yet we continue allowing these things…we’ve got need for more targeted approach.”
Patel described ongoing efforts against child exploitation:“About 1,500 child predators arrested; 300 human traffickers arrested; 4,700 children identified & saved—a 35% increase from year-to-date last year alone.” He added,“That is a problem exploding through generative AI…They have seen 1,325% increase in generative AI leading sextortion/child sexual abuse not countermanded by FBI alone…We need help from social media companies/private sector/internet service providers hosting such platforms…We must resolve issue w/ partners Congress/private sector.” Britt confirmed her commitment toward working alongside law enforcement & industry leaders seeking new solutions.
Finally discussing local crime reduction initiatives such as Alabama Law Enforcement Agency’s Metro Area Crime Suppression Unit—which reported notable decreases both violent (-30%) & overall (-19%) criminal activity—Britt commented:“It is actually producing results…it’s this type interagency connectivity I think ultimately leads safer cities/streets…I am grateful for men/women Alabama uniform made happen.”
She then asked,“How is FBI working collaborate ways across country ensure even greater success stories tell?”
Director Patel pointed toward joint training/collaboration at Redstone Arsenal Huntsville:“In next few years bring 13k students/year through Alabama Redstone Arsenal…By students mean FBI employees/sheriffs/police chiefs/cops/intel analysts…If want see where going/how train future—it happening Quantico/Redstone—we very proud it.”
