Sen. Merkley Exposes Patel’s Alarming Ignorance of Due Process

Senator Jeff Merkley confronted FBI Director Kash Patel over one of the most fundamental guarantees in the U.S. Constitution — due process under the Fifth Amendment. When asked whether hundreds of immigrants who were swept off American streets and sent to El Salvador were afforded due process, Patel refused to answer. He claimed he wasn’t a constitutional scholar, deflected responsibility, and avoided acknowledging the basic protections the Constitution extends to all persons on American soil.

Merkley reminded Patel that the Supreme Court has repeatedly affirmed these rights. But Patel still wouldn’t commit to investigating possible violations. This exchange raised major concerns about whether the FBI — under Patel’s leadership — is willing to uphold the Constitution at all.

This is about more than one case. It’s about whether due process is still a universal right or something the government can choose to ignore when it’s politically convenient. And Merkley made clear what’s at stake.

#KashPatel

#SenatorMerkley

#DueProcess