WATCH: Blumenthal asks Patel to commit to not sending FBI agents to polling places on Election Day

By PBS NewsHour

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Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn., pressed FBI Director Kash Patel on Tuesday to commit that “under no circumstances” will the FBI deploy agents to polling locations on Election Day. Patel said in an oversight hearing held by the Senate Judiciary Committee that there’s an FBI election councilor coordinator in every single field office “where we quarterback these election activities from.” Blumenthal again asked if Patel would commit to not send FBI agents to polling places on Election Day. “The FBI will follow the law,” Patel said. “If there's a reason to go there because there's been a violation of law, we will, otherwise we won't.” “Would you agree with me that the FBI has no general authority to monitor elections?” the senator asked. Patel said that priority rests with the Department of Homeland Security. The senator repeated his question. “I don't know that we can't legally do it,” Patel said. “I'm telling you we're going to house our agents and intel analysts in our field of

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