FBI director Kash Patel has suggested that federal agents could be sent to polling places during the coming elections, prompting accusations from Democrats that the Trump administration may seek greater control over the voting process.
Speaking before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, Mr Patel appeared to contradict earlier indications that agents would not be deployed at polling stations. He became visibly angry when Senator Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, challenged him over the issue.
“I thought you weren’t going to be sending people to the polls,” Mr Welch said.
“When did you hear that? Just another lie,” Mr Patel replied.
Pressed again on whether FBI agents would be sent to polling places, Mr Patel said: “We have election crisis coordinators manned at all 56 field offices.” He appeared to be referring to election crime co-ordinators, adding that “election integrity is of paramount importance” and that the FBI “will not shy away from that effort”.
FBI agents and the law
Federal law prohibits armed federal officers or military personnel from being deployed “at any place where a general or special election is held”. The chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also told a Democratic senator last month that there were “no plans” for the armed forces to deploy troops to polling stations during the midterm elections.
Mr Patel initially told the committee that the FBI would follow the law. “If there’s a reason to go there because there’s been a violation, we will, otherwise we won’t,” he said, adding that agents and intelligence analysts would be based in field offices.
The uncertainty comes as President Trump has intensified claims that elections are vulnerable to fraud. He continues to describe the 2020 election, which he lost, as “rigged”, and has said Democrats could take control of Congress only by cheating.
Democrats have sought assurances that officials will comply with restrictions on federal intervention. The law carries a potential prison sentence of five years for violations.
Mr Welch said Mr Patel’s answers raised the prospect that the federal government could be used to influence the result. He asked the FBI director to pledge that he would not interfere with the will of voters in November.
Mr Patel did not directly give that undertaking. Instead, he said: “I pledge unequivocally that I will not participate in your charade of lies.”
The exchange descended into a heated argument, with Mr Welch calling Mr Patel a “panderer” to Mr Trump. Mr Patel responded by questioning the senator’s personal finances.
“Let’s knock it off,” Senator John Cornyn, a Republican from Texas, told the pair as he attempted to calm the hearing.
Mr Patel continued: “Everybody sees you for the complete and total fraud you are.”
The Justice Department previously relied on its public integrity unit to advise prosecutors and agents on sensitive election investigations. The Trump administration dismantled the unit last year, leaving questions over who would make critical decisions within the department and the FBI during the final stages of the election cycle.
Every FBI field office and US attorney’s office has an official responsible for co-ordinating election-related cases. Those officials traditionally received guidance from the public integrity section in Washington, which encouraged caution to avoid any appearance of federal interference.
