WATCH: Sen. Blackburn questions Patel about Memphis homicides, increasing FBI enrollment

Sen. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., questioned Kash Patel on Thursday in his confirmation hearing for FBI director.

In her second round of questioning, Blackburn asked Patel to commit to making sure that the FBI has the resources needed in Tennessee to address the high number of homicides in Memphis.

They also discussed how to improve FBI recruitment and training, and what first actions he would take.

"I think people who want to join the FBI do so with the dedication to serve this country, and an adherence to law enforcement. And we will allow those folks that graduate from the academy and enter the FBI to carry a gun and a badge in representation of this country to protect its citizens. And when we allow the good cops to be cops and put handcuffs on the bad guys, I think you will see an exponential increase in uh in enrollment," Patel said.

Patel appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A loyal Trump supporter, Patel is a former public defender turned Justice Department prosecutor. He served in President Donald Trump’s first term as chief of staff to acting defense secretary Christopher Miller. In interviews, he has said he wants to reduce the size of the national intelligence community, and shut down the FBI’s headquarters in Washington. He’s also repeated the false narrative that Trump won the 2020 election.

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