Kelly defends Patel: "He's protecting those who are victims"

Host, The Megyn Kelly Show

He's protecting those who are victims. They just turned it upside down.
Open source (opens in a new tab)Megyn Kelly: "9/16 AM Update: Kash Patel Spars on the Hill"

Source and context

Analysis

Megyn Kelly: "9/16 AM Update: Kash Patel Spars on the Hill" (opens in a new tab)

About this source

Megyn Kelly's AM Update segment covering Kash Patel's September 15, 2026 Senate hearing on the FBI hiring-standards change.

Before the quotation

Covering Kash Patel's September 15, 2026 Senate hearing on her AM Update segment.

After the quotation

The segment went on to play the Kennedy-style exchange about involuntary participation without Kelly undercutting Patel's framing.

How this statement is classified

Defended or excused

Case context: Kash Patel defends FBI’s removal of automatic hiring disqualifiers for bestiality, prostitution, and employee theft

The label describes this statement’s response within the context above.

Why this label?

Kelly explicitly frames the hiring-policy change as protecting trafficking victims and accuses critics of inverting the story, a direct defense of Patel's testimony and the underlying policy.

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People and groups discussed
Kash Patel

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Josh Johnson

You know things have gone off the rails when someone has to ask, what about the bestiality? … We are witnessing history here. This may be the first time ever someone's response to "what's up with the bestiality" is "thank you for bringing that up." … Like, these are the standards you're lowering? Maybe the new standard should be only needs to do 20 push-ups and not can't go to a petting zoo wearing gym shorts.
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