Kash Patel’s Oppo Research On Top Dem Goes Viral After Reuters Photographer Snaps a Close-Up

(AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana)

FBI Director Kash Patel came armed to Tuesday’s Senate Judiciary Committee with pages of opposition research on the Democratic senators on the panel. Reuters photographers managed to snap a close-up pic of some of the jabs he had ready to go for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), the minority whip.

The page titled, “DURBIN INFO,” included bullet points that read, “Wealth has increased 364% since 1997 (took office in 1983).”

“Fined by FEC for late disclosures,” and “Wife has lobbying conflicts. Wife’s clients (Eastern Illinois University and the City of Napierville) collected over 1 million in federal earmarks prompted by Durbin.”

Joe Khalil, the Capitol Hill correspondent for NewsNation, shared the Reuters image and added, “The talented @Reuters photographers with a close-up of Kash Patel’s oppo research on the top Democrat on Senate Judiciary Dick Durbin… as Patel testifies before the committee.”

Politico’s Jonathan Martin also offered a take on the photo, arguing “it’s just one more thing among the dozens, but the expectation that cabinet secretaries are there to perform a show for Trump rather than offer any insights about their actual work is now just de rigueur.”

“Of course there was always contention at these hearings with the opposition party. But they have become indistinguishable, down to the talking points, from a cable TV food fight,” Martin concluded.

Others defended Durbin a bit, with one social media user noting, “Not sure who’s doing oppo but 364% since 1997 is like 5% per year. His house and an IRA invested in an index fund would grow faster than that…clearly Dick Durbin is one of the most honest guys in Congress.”

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