Durbin accuses Patel of ordering FBI firings before his confirmation as FBI director and lying about it

The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee accused Kash Patel, President Trump's pick to lead the FBI, of lying under oath at his confirmation hearing last month. 

Illinois Sen. Dick Durbin said he has "highly credible information" that Patel is behind the firings at the bureau, though he is not yet the FBI director. Patel denied any knowledge of them when he testified before the committee. 

In a letter to Justice Department Inspector General Michael Horowitz, Durbin wrote that even though Patel has not yet been confirmed as director, "multiple sources" said Patel has been personally directing the purge at the FBI.