{"id":2661781,"date":"2026-09-15T15:30:40","date_gmt":"2026-09-15T19:30:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/patel-brings-cheat-sheet-for-sparring-with-dick-durbin\/"},"modified":"2026-09-15T15:33:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-15T19:33:42","slug":"patel-brings-cheat-sheet-for-sparring-with-dick-durbin","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/patel-brings-cheat-sheet-for-sparring-with-dick-durbin\/","title":{"rendered":"Patel brings cheat sheet for sparring with Dick Durbin"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpatel-brings-cheat-sheet-for-sparring-with-dick-durbin%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2661781&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>FBI Director Kash Patel was observed using a cheat sheet during a Senate Judiciary Committee oversight hearing, notably noting notes aimed at critic Sen. Dick Durbin. The notes included claims that Durbin\u2019s wealth increased substantially as 1997 and falsely suggested he was fined by the Federal Election Commission, which was not true. Additionally,the notes referenced allegations about Durbin\u2019s potential conflicts of interest related too federal grants benefiting organizations connected to his wife,Loretta Schaefer durbin,though these points lacked concrete evidence. During the hearing, Patel sparred with Durbin but did not appear to directly use the notes for attack. The exchange also covered FBI policy changes on hiring individuals with past acts of bestiality-justified by considerations to avoid punishing victims and allowing applicants whose offenses occurred before age 18, a policy change made in June. the incident highlighted the use of purported research notes during congressional questioning.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"11691\">Kash Patel<\/a> was spotted glancing at his cheat sheet while answering questions from senators during his latest oversight hearing.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Sitting in front of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-judiciary-committee\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"872\">Senate Judiciary Committee<\/a> on Tuesday, Patel had typed notes specifically dedicated to Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dick-durbin\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"1010\">Dick Durbin<\/a> (D-IL), one of the director\u2019s fiercest critics. 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<a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/print-subscription-check\">Click here to login\/register your account<\/a> <\/div>\n<section class=\"we-inline-barrier\" aria-label=\"Washington Examiner subscription offer\">\n<div class=\"we-inner\">\n<h2 class=\"we-title\">Trusted reporting.<span>Unlimited access.<\/span><\/h2>\n<p class=\"we-deck\">              Subscribe for full access to Washington Examiner coverage, expert political analysis,       and subscriber-only journalism.     <\/p>\n<p>     <a class=\"we-cta\" href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/subscribe\/digital\">       <span>Get Unlimited Access<\/span>       <span class=\"we-arrow\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\u203a<\/span>     <\/a>     <\/p>\n<p class=\"we-member\">Already a member? <a href=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/sign-in\">Log in<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"we-cancel\">Cancel anytime.<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section><\/div>\n<p><script> (window._matherq = window._matherq || []).push([   'paywallEvent',   {     type: 'paywall',     category: 'block',     action: 'stop',     wall_type: 'paywall'   } ]); <\/script>     <\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">FBI Director Kash Patel holds his notes with talking points against the ranking member of the committee, Dick Durbin, ahead of testifying before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., U.S., September 15, 2026. REUTERS\/Evan Vucci REFILE \u2013 ADDING INFORMATION<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/09\/localimages\/2026-09-15T135831Z_1567889370_RC2PJNA7TXFC_RTRMADP_3_USA-JUSTICE-PATEL-e1789496357525.jpg?w=696&#8243; height=&#8221;675&#8243; width=&#8221;1024&#8243; src=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/09\/localimages\/2026-09-15T135831Z_1567889370_RC2PJNA7TXFC_RTRMADP_3_USA-JUSTICE-PATEL-e1789496357525.jpg?w=696&#8243; alt=&#8221;FBI Director Kash Patel cheat sheet on Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL)&#8221; class=&#8221;wp-image-4728164&#8243;  ><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FBI Director Kash Patel holds his notes with talking points against the ranking member of the committee, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), ahead of testifying before a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on oversight of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Sept. 15, 2026. (Evan Vucci\/Reuters)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One point states that Durbin\u2019s wealth has increased by 364% since 1997, and another says the 81-year-old lawmaker was fined by the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/federal-election-commission\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"4072\">Federal Election Commission<\/a> for late disclosures.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The latter point appeared to be incorrect, as the independent agency never fined Durbin. His campaign committee, Friends of Dick Durbin, was once subject to an FEC administrative review. However, that never resulted in a fine.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The next two points referenced how federal grants announced by Durbin benefited organizations represented by his wife, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/illinois\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"206\">Illinois<\/a> lobbyist Loretta Schaefer Durbin. The senator has acknowledged the alignment with his wife\u2019s clients, often saying their shared interests \u201coccasionally overlap.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patel frequently sparred with Durbin during the congressional hearing, but he didn\u2019t appear to use his opposition research notes on the Senate Judiciary Committee\u2019s top Democrat.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At one point, Durbin grilled the witness on why the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\" data-type=\"post_tag\" data-id=\"516\">FBI <\/a>changed its hiring policy to be less restrictive toward people who have engaged in acts of bestiality in the past. In response, Patel explained he approved the change because some applicants were forced into the depraved sexual practice when they were younger.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4727479\/dick-durbin-presses-kash-patel-reason-lifting-hiring-ban-bestiality-offenders\/\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"4727479\">DURBIN PRESSES PATEL ON REASON FOR LIFTING HIRING BAN ON BESTIALITY OFFENDERS<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWhat we did was, we did not want to punish victims of bestiality, victims who were trafficked,\u201d Patel said. \u201cWe did not want to make it an automatic disqualification for the FBI to consider you if you are a victim of these awful, heinous acts. They still have to go to the same rigorous standards and application process.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If the alleged bestiality occurred before they turned 18, FBI applicants are not automatically disqualified from the hiring process. That wasn\u2019t standard policy until the bureau issued a memo changing it in June.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FBI Director Kash Patel was seen looking at his notes during a Senate hearing, with a cheat sheet focused on Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), one of his main critics<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2159,"featured_media":2661782,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-09-15T132231Z_1956296944_RC2PJNA4FZW0_RTRMADP_3_USA-JUSTICE-PATEL-e1789496345240.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[34061,3896,41095,51054,5894],"class_list":["post-2661781","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-cheat-sheet","tag-debate","tag-dick-durbin","tag-patel-2","tag-politics"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/2026-09-15T132231Z_1956296944_RC2PJNA4FZW0_RTRMADP_3_USA-JUSTICE-PATEL-e1789496345240.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661781","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2159"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2661781"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661781\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2661784,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2661781\/revisions\/2661784"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2661782"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2661781"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2661781"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2661781"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}