# Patel Defends FBI Hiring Rule Change Allowing Past Bestiality - URL: https://twotakes.us/stories/patel-defends-fbi-hiring-rule-change-allowing-past-bestiality - Published: 2026-09-15T19:13:45.425807+00:00 - Topics: fbi, kash-patel, congressional-oversight, hiring-policy, crime-statistics ## What the left says - The policy change removed clear, categorical safeguards without public data showing how many applicants the exception would actually help, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. - Bipartisan skepticism, including from a Republican senator, suggests this isn't just partisan criticism but a genuine concern about vetting standards at a law enforcement agency tasked with public trust. - The change surfaced alongside other controversies, including firings seen as politically motivated, luxury vehicle purchases, and personal travel expenses, fitting a broader pattern of scrutiny over Patel's leadership and use of resources. - Senators like Durbin and Booker pressed Patel not just on this policy but on the FBI's broader handling of politically sensitive matters, including the Epstein files and law enforcement shootings, suggesting a pattern of insufficient accountability. ## What the right says - Patel explained the rationale was to avoid penalizing trafficking victims who were coerced into bestiality or prostitution, not to lower standards for willing participants in criminal conduct. - The FBI maintains it did not relax standards broadly and that applicants who engaged in criminal sexual acts remain ineligible, with the change intended only to allow case-by-case review of coerced victims. - Patel used the hearing to highlight major FBI accomplishments, including capturing all ten of the bureau's most wanted fugitives, a historic drop in violent crime, and thwarting over 1,000 potential terrorist attacks. - The FBI's security record at major events like the World Cup, Olympics, and F1 races with zero major incidents demonstrates operational competence that supporters argue is being overshadowed by an isolated hiring policy controversy. ## Common ground - The FBI issued guidance this spring removing automatic disqualification for past prostitution and bestiality-related conduct in hiring, a change confirmed by both the agency and outside reporting. - Senators from both parties, including Republican John Kennedy and Democrat Dick Durbin, questioned Patel directly about the rationale for the policy change during the same hearing. - The FBI has not publicly released data on how many applicants have been affected by the exception for trafficking or abuse victims. - Patel and lawmakers on both sides expressed the shared goal of maintaining public trust in FBI hiring and being able to attract qualified, trustworthy agents. ## Sources - [Breitbart](https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2026/09/15/watch-live-kash-patel-testifies-before-congress/) (Right) - [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/fbi-director-kash-patel-testify-senate-panel/) (Lean Left) - [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch-patel-schiff-squabble-over-fbi-terminations-senate-hearing/) (Lean Left) - [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch-booker-patel-grassley-clash-during-senate-hearing/) (Lean Left) - [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/kash-patel-sen-welch-spar-over-fbis-role-in-us-elections/) (Lean Left) - [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/kash-patel-defends-changes-fbi-hiring-standards-questioning-senate-hearing/) (Lean Left) - [CBS News](https://www.cbsnews.com/video/durbin-presses-patel-response-to-ice-involved-shootings-at-senate-committee-hearing/) (Lean Left) - [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kash-patel-reveals-fbi-capture-all-10-members-most-wanted-fugitive-list-during-hearing) (Right) - [Fox News](https://www.foxnews.com/politics/kash-patel-tout-largest-year-to-year-violent-crime-drop-us-history) (Right) - [Just The News](https://justthenews.com/politics-policy/kash-patel-confirms-admin-working-legislation-stop-birth-tourism?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators) (Right) - [Newsmax](https://www.newsmax.com/politics/kash-patel-crime-fbi/2026/09/15/id/1269499) (Right) - [RedState](https://redstate.com/wardclark/2026/09/15/kash-patel-rebuilt-fbi-now-crushing-crime-defending-homeland-n2206949) (Unknown) - [RedState](https://redstate.com/terichristoph/2026/09/15/exchange-between-sen-kennedy-and-kash-patel-over-fbi-hiring-standards-n2206943) (Unknown) - [The Guardian US](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/sep/15/kash-patel-fbi-hiring-policy-bestiality) (Left) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/6090295-kennedy-grills-patel-fbi-policy-bestiality/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/6089806-kash-patel-travel-vehicle-controversies-senate-hearing/) (Center) - [The Hill](https://thehill.com/video-clips/6089723-watch-live-kash-patel-senate-hearing-fbi-oversight/) (Center) - [Washington Post](https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/2026/09/15/senators-grill-fbi-director-kash-patel/) (Lean Left) - [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/15/fbi-director-kash-patel-defends-flock-cameras-says-theyve-saved/) (Right) - [Washington Times](https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2026/sep/15/fbi-director-kash-patel-faces-democrats-critical-leadership-senate/) (Right) - [Just The News](https://justthenews.com/government/federal-agencies/patel-defends-fbis-relaxing-employment-standards-concerning-past?utm_source=justthenews.com&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=external-news-aggregators) (Right) --- Content by TwoTakes (https://twotakes.us). 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