Sean Hannity Gives Embattled Kash Patel Jaw-Dropping Praise
Beleaguered FBI Director Kash Patel found himself in friendly Fox News territory on Monday, being lavished with praise by host Sean Hannity. (Watch the video below.)
“Obviously, you’re doing an incredible job,” Hannity gushed.
The two reviewed some high-profile arrests of note, including terror suspect Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood al-Saadi. Patel had called it a “righteous mission executed brilliantly by our agents.” But a recent report accused the director of padding the bureau’s arrest stats overall.
Hannity steered clear of embarrassing allegations about Patel’s heavy drinking; a VIP snorkeling expedition at Pearl Harbor that spurred more questions about him pursuing leisure on taxpayers’ dime; his alleged “weaponizing” of the FBI against agents who investigated Jan. 6 rioters and President Donald Trump; and a perceived retaliatory probe of a New York Times reporter who wrote a story accusing Patel of using bureau resources to provide travel and protection for his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins.
Patel was on Hannity’s show last month to be served up a “this doesn’t sound like you” from the host as Patel defended himself against the Times’ allegations. (He’s also suing The Atlantic for its article that focused on his alleged alcohol consumption and erratic behavior.)
An unnamed White House official told Politico last month that Trump is growing weary of the distracting headlines about Patel. “It’s only a matter of time” before the director is shown the door, the source said.
Earlier, Hannity gave a brief report on the shooting at a San Diego mosque that left three dead (the shooting suspects later killed themselves).
Later, he asked Patel about heightened security at places of worship but did not mention mosques.
“Why does it appear that churches and synagogues are being targeted like never before?” he asked.
“Because these people are pure evil,” Patel replied. “These people wish to target Americans based on their faith because they are intolerant of the way America operates. They are jealous of the American democracy that we have here, and they choose to be cowards and target us from afar based on our institutions and our houses of worship and our faith. And that’s what separates America from the rest of the world.”
“Americans deserve law and order and safety and security,” Hannity followed. “Obviously, you’re doing an incredible job. The numbers do speak for themselves.”
