Patel Drops Bestiality Ban for FBI Applicants, Citing Trafficking Victims in Senate Clash
Updated
Updated · CNN · Sep 15
Patel Drops Bestiality Ban for FBI Applicants, Citing Trafficking Victims in Senate Clash
3 articles · Updated · CNN · Sep 15
Summary
Patel told the Senate Judiciary Committee the FBI no longer automatically disqualifies applicants who admit prostitution or bestiality if they were coerced as trafficking victims.
Bipartisan senators challenged his explanation, with Republican John Kennedy pressing whether anyone who had sex with an animal could still become an FBI agent; Patel answered no.
The policy shift surfaced during a combative hearing that also covered FBI personnel departures and active death investigations, where Patel withheld details on ongoing cases.
Election security widened the confrontation: Patel said agents and intelligence analysts would be housed in 56 field offices, then rejected a Democratic warning about poll interference as a "charade of lies."