Senator Adam Schiff of California appeared Tuesday on the MS NOW program The Briefing. He recounted questioning Todd Blanche over Blanche remarks at a conservative convention indicating that Justice Department staff who had worked on Donald Trump prosecutions were removed, with similar steps taken at the FBI by Patel.

Blanche replied that ethics rules barred him from involvement in matters concerning his former client the president, so he took no part in the dismissals and was only describing what happened. Patel said any FBI agents who had handled those inquiries left through retirement or for reasons unconnected to the cases.

Schiff told Patel, nearby attorneys, and FBI personnel watching that records must be retained because lawmakers will examine hundreds of those terminations and pursue accountability.