During a House Judiciary Committee hearing, Representative Wesley Hunt (R) questioned FBI Director Kash Patel about the rising tide of political violence in the United States.
Hunt opened his remarks by thanking Patel "for restoring faith in the FBI," which has been "severely eroded under the Biden administration."
Citing an April 7, 2025 post by conservative activist Charlie Kirk warning of growing tolerance for political violence, Hunt addressed what he called a dangerous shift in public discourse.
"We've gotten to a point in America where violence is encouraged," Hunt warned. "People that you disagree with are not existential threats. They are not Nazis. They are not fascists. They are not racist. They are not deplorable. They are not irredeemable. They are your fellow Americans who have a different perspective on how government should run."
Referring to the recent death of Kirk, Hunt emphasized the importance of peaceful expression and the dangers of incitement.
"Charlie Kirk is not dead because of what he said. Charlie Kirk is dead because people listened. He set up a tent that said, 'Prove me wrong,' and exercised his First Amendment right. That's all he did. And we will continue to do so in this country in order to preserve this constitutional republic," Hunt commented.
In response, Director Patel confirmed that the FBI is closely monitoring a surge in politically motivated violence.
While not naming any specific ideology, Patel stated that "there's too much political violence, and it has been a precipitate rise on too many fronts. We solve this by giving the FBI more authorities to go into and work with the private sector."
He went on to explain that online groups and social media can foster the rise of political violence without anyone knowing.
"It is not 1950s America anymore," he noted. "In 2025, the Cyberspace needs to be tackled."
Hunt concluded by resubmitting previously unanswered questions regarding the attempted assassination of President Donald Trump and asked for written responses once the legal case concludes. Patel agreed, stating the bureau would respond "as soon as the trial's over."
