President Donald Trump’s pick to run the FBI, Kash Patel, downplayed his past promotion of right-wing conspiracy theories and his pledges to pursue retribution against Trump’s opponents on Thursday at his combative Senate confirmation hearing.

Kash Patel, President Trump's pick for FBI director, faced members of the Senate Judiciary Committee in his confirmation hearing Thursday.

Utah Sen. Mike Lee, who sits on the powerful Judiciary Committee and has backed his nomination, defended Patel from claims he would weaponize the agency against the president’s foes.