WATCH: Sen. Coons asks Patel if he would resign if directed to do something unethical or illegal

Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., questioned Kash Patel on Thursday in his confirmation hearing for FBI director.

The senator asked if Patel would launch an investigation into a political adversary if the president made that directive. Patel said would only open an investigation using a “factual, articulable legal basis” to do so.

Coons asked if he was pressed by the president to halt a legitimate probe into an ally, like a major donor, what would he do? Patel said he would obey the law.

Coons cited past FBI directors who said they’d be willing to resign if pressed by the president to do something unethical, illegal or unconstitutional. The senator asked Patel if he’d be willing to do the same.

Patel said he would “never do anything unconstitutional or unlawful” and he “never has” in his 16 years of service. When asked again, Patel said, “I will always obey the law.”

Patel appeared before the Senate Judiciary Committee.

A loyal Trump supporter, Patel is a former public defender turned Justice Department prosecutor. He served in 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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