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In less than 3 minutes of wondering through Sen. Peter Welch, a Vermont Democrat, Kash Patel only admitted that Joe Biden “certified” as president.

transcription

“But what’s so hard about just saying that Biden won the 2020 election? What’s hard about that?” “Senator, as I’ve said before, that President Biden was certified and sworn in, and he was a president. I don’t know how else to say it.” “Well, the other way to say it is he won.” “He was the president.” “The other way to say it is he won. I can say Trump won. I didn’t vote for him, but he won. You understand what I’m asking you? Can you say the words: Joe Biden won the 2020 election?” “Joe Biden is the — was the president of the United States.” “I’m going to stay on this. There’s a difference. I can say the words: Donald Trump won. I don’t like to say it, but I must say it. And you cannot say that Joe Biden won the election.” “What I can say is the same for both of them, Senator. Both of their elections were certified, and they are both — one was and one now is president.” “OK.”

By Devlin Barrett

Reports from Washington

A senator at Kash Patel’s confirmation hearing to be F.B.I. director pressed him to articulate a simple truth: Joseph R. Biden won the 2020 election.

In less than 3 minutes of being asked through Senator Peter Welch, a Democrat from Vermont, Mr. Patel only admitted that Mr. Biden “certified” as president.

“Can you say the words” Joe Biden the 2020 elections “?” Mr. Welch asked.

Mr. Patel replied, “Joe Biden was the president of the United States.”

Mr. Welch pressed again: “I can say the words ‘Donald Trump won.’ I don’t like to say it. But I must say it. And you cannot say that Joe Biden won the election.”

Mr. Patel refused once again. ” What I can say is the same for the senator, his two elections were qualified and they have it: we were and one is now president. “

Mr. Patel’s avoidance of using the “W” word was eerily similar to the way Mr. Trump’s nominee for Attorney General, Pam Bondi, also dodged the query for his confirmation hearing earlier this month.

Ms. Bondi said Mr. Biden was “duly sworn in” as president, but like Mr. Patel, she would not explicitly say he won.

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