"Mr. Patel, thank you for your testimony today," Sen. Grassley said as the hearing drew to a close.

Remarking on Patel's testimony over the course of the day, the GOP committee chairman said, "I think you're a person that can stand a lot of heat, including a president telling you how to do your job."

"If confirmed, you'll be in charge of one of the world's best law enforcement agencies at a time when it desperately needs strong changes," Grassley said before gaveling out the hearing.

Sen. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., grew irate as he repeatedly questioned Patel over his past vocal support for the "Jan. 6 choir."

Earlier in the hearing, Patel had sought to distance himself from the violent rioters who were a part of the choir, and claimed he had nothing to do with the recording of the group singing the national anthem that President Trump played multiple times at rallies during his 2024 campaign.

But Schiff presented Patel with a direct quote from one of his appearances on Steve Bannon's podcast, where he stated, "So what we thought would be cool is if we captured that audio and then, of course, had the greatest president, President Donald J. Trump, recite the pledge of allegiance, then we went to a studio and recorded it, mastered it, digitized it, and put it out as a song."

"You're part of the 'we,' right? When you say 'we,' that includes you, doesn't it Mr. Patel?" Schiff said.

"Not in every instance," Patel shot back.

Schiff then continued to push Patel -- at one point directing him to turn toward Capitol Police officers in the room, and tell them he was "proud" of promoting the choir's song.

"I'm looking at you," Patel told Schiff, refusing to turn toward the officers.

In another exchange with Sen. Hirono, Patel declined to say that former President Joe Biden won the 2020 election -- echoing the answer given by other Trump allies who have been questioned in their confirmation hearings.

"President Biden's election was certified. He was sworn in and he served as a president the United States," Patel said.

In an exchange with Sen. Mazie Hirono, Patel was questioned over a "supplement" he promoted to his followers that he claimed would act as a "detox" to rid them of the COVID-19 vaccine.

Patel pushed back, asking Hirono, "Senator, do you know of any individuals who died as a result of the vaccine? Because I do."

The nominee did not provide further details about his claim.

Hirono repeatedly asked Patel if he made money as a result of promoting the supplements, but Patel declined to answer the question directly -- referring Hirono to his financial disclosures provided to the committee.

Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse, D-R.I. continued to press Patel in blistering terms over President Trump's sweeping pardons for Jan. 6 rioters.

The senator then pressed Patel directly, using quotes from past podcast appearances and memes posted on his social media profiles.

"Here's what this nominee himself has said about using his office to prosecute journalists: 'We will go out and find the conspirators, not just in government but in the media. We're going to come after you, whether it's criminally or civilly.' Is that a correct quotation, Mr. Patel?" Whitehouse asked.

"In part," Patel ultimately answered.

Patel further sought to distance himself from a meme he previously re-shared on Truth Social showing him taking a chainsaw to his political enemies, claiming he "had nothing to do with the creation" of the meme.

Whitehouse then summed up, in scathing terms, what he argued Patel's nomination could mean for the future of the FBI and the nonpartisan enforcement of the law.

"There is an unfathomable difference between a seeming facade being constructed around this nominee here today and what he has actually done and said in real life when left to his own devices," he said.