Sen. Blackburn: Democrats “Fear” Kash Patel Leading FBI Because He Knows the Truth About Russia Collusion Narrative

Tennessee Republican Senator Marsha Blackburn said during a Fox News interview this week that Democrats—including California’s Adam Schiff—are afraid of Kash Patel potentially leading the FBI because of what he knows about their involvement in the now-discredited “Russia collusion” narrative during former President Donald Trump’s first term.

“I think they are very fearful of Kash Patel because he knows what Adam Schiff and others did in pushing the Russia collusion story,” Blackburn told Fox News host Charlie Hurt. “They know he has the dirt on them, if you will, and I think they’re afraid of what he’s going to do—what he might reveal to the American people.”

Hurt agreed, saying Patel is known for his commitment to transparency in Washington.

RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard Highlight Growing Bipartisan Shift

Hurt went on to ask Blackburn how Democrats might react to former members of their own party—such as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard—aligning themselves with Trump on policy issues.

“I think you’re right,” Blackburn replied. “It makes them angry. They see RFK Jr. and Tulsi Gabbard working on common-sense solutions with President Trump, and they feel betrayed.”

Blackburn added that Democrats may attempt to “punish” Kennedy and others by slowing down their nominations or withholding political support.

“RFK Jr. is going to do a great job at HHS,” Blackburn said. “He’s going to help us find these 300,000 missing children. I’ve been trying to locate them since the number was 75,000, and the Biden administration has never responded.”

She also outlined Kennedy’s future collaborations, stating, “He’s going to rework CMS with Dr. [Mehmet] Oz, work with Dr. Marty Makary to clean up the FDA, and with Dr. [Jay] Bhattacharya at the NIH.”

Push for Transparency in Federal Health Agencies

According to Blackburn, the goal is to bring “transparency” to agencies that Americans have lost trust in—especially in light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“People want to know what really happened with COVID,” Blackburn said. “I believe we’re finally going to be able to find out.”

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, a Stanford University professor and noted critic of the government’s pandemic response, was nominated by Trump to help lead NIH. He previously served as a lead plaintiff in the Murthy v. Missouri Supreme Court case, arguing that the government censored his views on COVID-19 via social media platforms. Although the case gained national attention, it was ultimately unsuccessful in a 6–3 ruling.

Of Bhattacharya’s role, Trump said, “He will work alongside Robert F. Kennedy Jr. to direct the nation’s medical research and make important discoveries that will improve health and save lives.”

Who Is Kash Patel?

Kash Patel is a former federal prosecutor and national security official who rose to prominence for his work on the House Intelligence Committee under then-Chair Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.). He played a key role in Republican investigations into alleged FBI misconduct during the 2016 election and the Trump-Russia investigation.

In 2018, Patel was instrumental in drafting the controversial Nunes memo, which alleged that the FBI misled the FISA court in seeking a surveillance warrant on former Trump campaign aide Carter Page. The memo accused the FBI of omitting key facts and relying too heavily on unverified information from the Steele dossier.

Patel later served as senior director of the Counterterrorism Directorate on the National Security Council and is widely viewed by conservatives as a dedicated truth-seeker and accountability advocate.

Democrats Push Back on Patel’s Rise

Democratic lawmakers have expressed concern over Patel’s growing influence, particularly amid speculation he could be nominated to lead the FBI under a potential second Trump term. Critics argue that his past partisan involvement could undermine the bureau’s neutrality.

Blackburn, however, views that resistance as politically motivated.

“They’re not worried about fairness,” she said. “They’re worried about being exposed.”