The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee has accused Trump’s pick to head the FBI, Kash Patel, of committing perjury during his confirmation hearing, when Patel testified that he did not know about the Trump administration’s purge of top officials at the FBI. This is Senator Dick Durbin speaking during Senate debate on Tuesday.

Sen. Dick Durbin: “According to my whistleblower sources, Mr. Patel is receiving information from within the FBI from the director’s advisory team. Mr. Patel then provides direction to Stephen Miller, who relays it to the Acting Deputy Attorney General Bove. It is unacceptable for a nominee with no legal or current role in government to personally direct the unjustified and potentially illegal firings of dedicated, nonpartisan professionals at the FBI. If these allegations are true, then Mr. Patel may have committed perjury before the Senate Judiciary Committee.”

The Senate Judiciary has scheduled a Thursday vote on whether to recommend Kash Patel’s nomination to the full Senate.