FBI Director Kash Patel Defends Hiring People Accused of Prostitution, Solicitation, Bestiality

FBI director Kash Patel on Tuesday was pressed by Democratic and Republican senators about his decision to change his agency’s hiring guidelines to allow those accused of prostitution, solicitation, and even bestiality to join the nation’s premier federal law enforcement agency. Mr. Patel says the changes to hiring practices are meant to give opportunities to victims — not perpetrators. Earlier this summer Mr. Patel issued guidance to allow those accused of soliciting a prostitute to apply for jobs at the FBI. He told senators that the change does not automatically guarantee employment for people with such a sexual history.Mr. Patel claimed that the hiring practices were changed only for those who were trafficked and forced into prostitution or into performing sex acts with animals.“We are not going to criminalize and prevent victims from serving the United States of America,” the director said. “Look at this — he’s no longer protecting those who have been charged with bestiality, he’s protecting those who are victims,” the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, Senator Dick Durbin, said sarcastically. Mr. Patel accused Mr. Durbin of lying about the situation. After Mr. Durbin’s questioning, a Republican member of the panel, Senator John Kennedy, spent most of his questioning time on the changes to hiring practices. He made clear that he was dumbfounded by Mr. Patel’s decision. “I’m really trying to understand,” Mr. Kennedy said as he placed his hand over his face. “I’m trying to understand this, Kash.” Mr. Patel said only former prostitutes, not those who solicited them, would be allowed to apply. “It’s not if you frequented a prostitute, it’s if you were a prostitute?” Mr. Kennedy asked. “Obviously, we are never going to hire the criminals,” Mr. Patel responded. Mr. Kennedy then asked about the new lax requirements on hiring those who committed acts of bestiality. Mr. Patel said that it would only be the victims of bestiality themselves. “So you disqualified the animal?” Mr. Kenned asked jokingly. Mr. Patel clarified to say that those who were trafficked and made to have sexual relations with animals would be allowed to participate in the interview process. “I understand the game. People try to make you look bad. We do the same thing when the other party’s in office,” Mr. Kennedy said. “All of this stuff has really hurt the FBI,” the Louisiana Republican went on. “So I’m trying to get to the bottom of this.”He then went into a hypothetical to clarify once again that individuals who willingly had sex with animals would not be allowed to apply. “If Joe participated in bestiality — not as the animal, but as the human — don’t you think he oughta be disqualified?” Mr. Kennedy asked. “How do you involuntarily do it?” Mr. Patel said in response that there are “degrading acts of all kinds” that victims of trafficking are meant to perform, meaning that they should not be barred from working at the FBI. Mr. Patel said that he did not come up with the idea to relax the hiring standards, but rather it was one of his subordinates. Mr. Kennedy still seemed confused as to why Mr. Patel would entertain the changes. “When you saw ‘bestiality’ … the person who recommended it, why didn’t you just say: ‘What planet did you parachute in from?’” Mr. Kennedy asked.

FBI Director Kash Patel Defends Hiring People Accused of Prostitution, Solicitation, Bestiality

FBI Director Kash Patel Defends Hiring People Accused of Prostitution, Solicitation, Bestiality

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