Kash Patel, Tulsi Gabbard and others conclude confirmation hearings today

Three of President Donald Trump’s cabinet picks finished their confirmation hearings on Thursday.

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Tulsi Gabbard and Kash Patel were questioned by Democratic senators. 

Thursday’s confirmation hearings highlights

Republican senator wants to know: Would Tulsi Gabbard give Russia a pass?

Republicans as well as Democrats criticized President Donald Trump’s pick for national intelligence director, condemning Tulsi Gabbard for previous comments sympathetic to Russia, for meeting with Syria’s now-deposed leader and for supporting government leaker Edward Snowden, the Associated Press reported. 

Gabbard said years of failures by America’s intelligence services require big changes. She said false or politicized intelligence has led to wars, foreign policy failures and the misuse of espionage.

"The bottom line is this must end," she said.

Gabbard has won praise in Russian state-controlled media by echoing Russian propaganda justifying the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine. Republicans accused her of spreading Russian disinformation.

Kansas Republican Jerry Moran wanted to know: Would Russia "get a pass" from her?

RFK Jr.’s vaccine views puts him on defensive amid key confirmation vote 

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s long record of questioning the safety of childhood vaccinations could jeopardize his confirmation for health secretary. If all the Democrats rejected Kennedy’s nomination, he could only afford to lose three Republicans.

According to the Associated Press, when Kennedy refused Thursday to freject a long-discredited theory that vaccines cause autism, despite years of studies and research that have found they do not, it clearly troubled Health Committee chairman Bill Cassidy.

Cassidy is a Louisiana Republican and liver doctor who has regularly encouraged his constituents to vaccinate against COVID-19 and other diseases.

"If there’s any false note, any undermining of a mama’s trust in vaccines, another person will die from a vaccine preventable disease," Cassidy said.

RFK Jr. and Bernie Sanders heated exchange

Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s hearing ended following a heated exchange with Sen. Bernie Sanders.

Sanders questioned Kennedy on his views on vaccines. Kennedy fired back saying that members of Congress, including Sanders, were receiving money from pharmaceutical companies, according to the Associated Press. 

The line drew cheers and applause from Kennedy’s supporters in the room.

Sanders responded that he doesn’t take money from organizations or groups that represent the drug-making industry.

Kash Patel says he’ll focus FBI’s efforts on combating violent crime

What they're saying:

Kash Patel said "I’m going to let the cops be cops and put handcuffs on the bad guys and put child molesters in prison and put murderers in prison," Patel told lawmakers when asked what his plans for the bureau are.

The Associated Press reported that Patel wrote in a Wall Street Journal op-ed published this week that "violent crime is destroying families across the nation."

There has been little discussion of national security issues throughout the hearing, which focused on Patel’s past comments.

That’s despite a heightened threat of international terrorism and an FBI investigation into a massive breach by Chinese hackers of American telecommunications companies.

Democrats go after Kash Patel’s support of Jan. 6 defendants

Democratic Sen. Adam Schiff called on Kash Patel to turn around and face the Capitol police officers in the hearing room.

It came as Schiff was criticizing Patel for producing a song featuring President Trump and a choir of jailed Jan. 6 defendants to help raise money for the families of those charged in the Capitol riot.

"If you have the courage to, look them in the eye, Mr. Patel. And tell them you’re proud of what you did. Tell them you’re proud that you raised money off of people that assaulted their colleagues, that pepper sprayed them, that beat them with poles," Schiff said the AP reported. 

Patel fired back: "That’s an abject lie, you know it. I never, never, ever accepted violence against law enforcement."

What to know about Trump's picks

Robert F. Kennedy Jr., Health and Human Services

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. had his second of two confirmation hearings for his Health and Human Services Secretary nomination. He will appear before the Health Committee a day after his hearing before the Finance Committee.

The Associated Press reported that at Wednesday’s Senate Finance Committee, it was Republican Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, who challenged Kennedy the most. 

RELATED: Who is RFK Jr.'s wife? Cheryl Hines seen at Senate confirmation hearing

Tulsi Gabbard, former US Representative from Hawaii and President Donald Trump's nominee to be director of National Intelligence, during a Senate Intelligence Committee confirmation hearing in Washington, DC, US, on Thursday, Jan. 30, 2025. (Daniel H

When asking him to detail his plans for Medicare and Medicaid, Kennedy responded with few answers and misstated some basic facts about how the federally funded programs work and how many people they serve.

Cassidy’s vote is crucial for Kennedy since he also serves on the finance committee that will decide whether the health secretary nominee makes it to the Senate floor.

Tulsi Gabbard, Office of the Director of National Intelligence

Tulsi Gabbard, President Donald Trump’s pick to be director of national intelligence, is expected to face questions from the Senate Intelligence Committee over past comments about Russia and a 2017 visit with Syria’s now-deposed leader, the Associated Press reported. 

RELATED: Kristi Noem faces Senate confirmation hearing

 Gabbard unsuccessfully sought the 2020 presidential nomination and left the party in 2022. Gabbard endorsed Trump in August and campaigned often with him. She served in the Army National Guard for more than two decades and was deployed to Iraq and Kuwait. 

Kash Patel, FBI

Kash Patel was selected by Trump to lead the FBI and may face questions from Democratic senators Thursday about his loyalty to Trump and stated desire to overhaul the bureau.

How do confirmation hearings work?

The backstory:

Once President Donald Trump nominates his picks for various positions, they are then presented to the appropriate Senate committee. The committee would then vote to recommend a candidate to the full Senate. The full Senate will debate. Trump's picks will either be confirmed or rejected by a simple majority. If they are approved, they are then sworn in. 

Republicans currently hold 53 seats in the Senate, which could suggest many of Trump's picks will be confirmed without issue. 


 

PoliticsU.S.NewsNews