WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina) today questioned Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Kash Patel on recent and persisting threats toward Americans’ security. In wake of the assassination of Charlie Kirk, Senator Graham reiterated his call for repealing Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act of 1996, a legal provision that allows social media companies to avoid liability for content on their platforms, including violent and sexually exploitative material. Graham also praised the FBI’s new personnel policies and asked Director Patel about ongoing, foreign terrorist threats facing America. 

On Social Media:

• GRAHAM: “After the assassination of Charlie Kirk, there seems to be one refrain from everybody, and that’s about the effect of social media. Do you believe that social media is one of the instruments radicalizing America and inciting violence?”
• PATEL: “My belief is based on the data, and the data shows that social media is wildly out of control when it comes to radicalizing.”
• GRAHAM: “You’re dead right.” https://youtu.be/4ZWFefjmDss?si=AAkrUA0gc7oJ35af&t=198

• GRAHAM: “Would you advocate a sunsetting of Section 230 to bring more liability to the companies who [allow this type of content]?”
• PATEL: “I’ve advocated that for years.”
• GRAHAM: “We need to do this, folks. These companies are taking content that makes you sick, that could get you killed, get you poisoned, and there’s nothing we can do about it under our law… because of Section 230. If your child is being sexually groomed online or bullied online, and you go to the social media company and ask them to take it down [and] they refuse, you have like zero rights.” https://youtu.be/4ZWFefjmDss?si=e_TrGYCPo0fBuv8I&t=309

On the FBI’s Personnel Policies:

• GRAHAM: “As to how to be an FBI agent, you’ve made a decision that local law enforcement folks, [and] people who have served in law enforcement without a college degree are able to apply now. Is that correct?”
• PATEL: “Yes, sir.”
• GRAHAM: “Makes sense to me. Experience out in the field might be as valuable as a college degree, believe it or not.” https://youtu.be/4ZWFefjmDss?si=UDAT-nkHMMRU4OcY&t=11

On Foreign Terrorist Threats:

• GRAHAM: “In December 2023, [former FBI] Director Wray said he sees blinking lights everywhere regarding foreign terrorist threats against our homeland. How would you characterize the state of threats to our homeland by foreign terrorist groups?”
• PATEL: “Foreign terrorist organizations have adapted and started utilizing online platforms and so has the FBI. While they are adapting [and] expanding how they harm our country, we have as well. They have not stopped. There’s been a resurgence [of threats] in places like West Africa and elsewhere of foreign terrorist organizations and also the newly emboldened drug trafficking organizations in Mexico. It’s going to take a whole-of-government approach.”
• GRAHAM: “Does Hezbollah fall within that group?”
• PATEL: “Yes, sir.”
• GRAHAM: “So, Hezbollah is involved in not only terrorism but narcoterrorism?”
• PATEL: “Yes, sir.”
• GRAHAM: “Do you consider Hezbollah a threat to the United States?”
• PATEL: “Absolutely.” https://youtu.be/4ZWFefjmDss?si=BbMkyWXNKBlcCMyT&t=469

Click here to watch Graham’s questions

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