Kash Patel & Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell trade insults over Epstein; ‘never spoke to Trump about…’

At a heated House Judiciary hearing, FBI Director Kash Patel faced grilling from Rep. Eric Swalwell over the transparency and scope of the bureau’s review of the Jeffrey Epstein case files—including whether Donald Trump’s name appeared and whether all credible files had been released. Patel testified that, while he had not personally reviewed every file, the FBI “released everything lawfully permissible,” strongly denied any cover-up, and said he never told either Trump or the Attorney General that Trump’s name was in the Epstein files. Patel clashed repeatedly with Swalwell, arguing his focus was on national security and crime reduction rather than political “innuendo.” The hearing also aired frustrations over ongoing limitations on file disclosure, judicial rulings on unsealing, and public suspicion that high-profile names remain protected in the Epstein case, despite Patel insisting no “credible” evidence implicates unreleased individuals.