WATCH: Sen. Kennedy presses FBI Director Patel to release the Epstein files

Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., pressed FBI Director Kash Patel on his department’s handling of the case files in investigations against Jeffrey Epstein, asking him to commit to releasing all the files he can legally.

Patel responded that the FBI would “release whatever we are legally permitted” to make public, noting that his agency has been complying with subpoena requests by the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

But he pushed back against the idea that the files that can be legally released show that Epstein trafficked women or girls to anyone other than himself.

“There is no credible information. None. If there were, I would bring the case yesterday,” Patel said. He added that the information available to the FBI is limited by the original investigation against Epstein from two decades ago, some of which was put under protective court orders.

The Trump administration has faced bipartisan pressure to release the government's files on the Epstein case, which the president and other officials have labeled as a “hoax.”

Patel testified Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has been under fire in recent days for social media posts he made about the Charlie Kirk shooting investigation and for dining out at an upscale Manhattan restaurant hours after the conservative activist was killed.

Last week, three former high-ranking FBI officials sued Patel, alleging they were fired in August as part of a “campaign of retribution” and that the director knew it was “likely illegal” to remove workers based on the cases they investigated.

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