WASHINGTON — FBI Director Kash Patel is expected to undergo significant scrutiny during two congressional hearings this week. Questions are mounting regarding his leadership of the FBI and his handling of the investigation into conservative activist Charlie Kirk’s assassination.

Patel will testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday and the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday in oversight hearings that will explore his tenure at the FBI. His time in office has been marked by high-level departures and the establishment of a co-deputy director position. This position was recently filled by former Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey, who will work alongside Deputy Director Dan Bongino, Patel’s former podcasting partner.

Patel is also facing a lawsuit from three former FBI leaders he dismissed, alleging they were unjustly targeted to maintain his standing with President Donald Trump. The lawsuit, which names Patel, Attorney General Pam Bondi, the FBI, the Justice Department, and the Executive Office of the President, describes Patel as fixated on social media, especially X. It claims he was concerned about job security if he didn’t dismiss agents linked to former criminal cases against Trump. The FBI has refrained from commenting on the lawsuit.

Patel is under criticism for handling the Kirk investigation. NBC News reported that Patel dined at the exclusive restaurant Rao’s in New York City on the night of Kirk’s death. That night, he announced on X that “the subject for the horrific shooting” was “in custody,” only to post about the individual’s release roughly 90 minutes later.

Following the incident, Patel traveled to Utah, the site of Kirk’s death, promoting ordinary investigative measures, such as releasing photos of the suspect, which is standard practice for the bureau. Initially, at an appearance with Utah Gov. Spencer Cox, a Republican, where the public’s assistance was sought in locating the shooter, Patel did not speak. During a subsequent news conference on Friday after a 22-year-old suspect was surrendered by a family friend and apprehended, Patel commended Trump, attributing the arrest to his support for the bureau.

Media outlets have extensively critiqued Patel, with Fox News recently running a headline stating: “Knives are out for embattled FBI Director Kash Patel, despite Trump support.”

Asked about Trump’s view, a White House official Friday defended Patel’s handling of the Kirk killing. “Director Patel is working night and day on this case. Anyone who doubts his resolve and dedication — especially when Charlie was such a close friend to him — simply is using this extremely sad moment in disgusting act of political gamesmanship. The focus is justice, and this killer will face the full wrath of the justice system,” the official said.

Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, said he expects that “the botched announcements and reports related to the Kirk assassination” will be a topic at Tuesday’s hearing, as well as FBI firings since Patel took office.

“The recent lawsuit reflected that professionals who have given their lives to the FBI have been virtually dismissed because they had the audacity to do a Jan. 6 investigation, as they were ordered to do,” Durbin told reporters. “And that, to me, is an indication of the political bent of this administration at this law enforcement agency.”

Republican Sens. Josh Hawley of Missouri and Thom Tillis of North Carolina agreed that the FBI’s handling of the Kirk assassination would be a major topic Tuesday but expressed support for Patel.

“Look, those things are fluid,” Tillis told reporters, arguing that if Patel is facing criticism for “talking about the potential suspects or persons of interest … too soon, that’s kind of weak.”

“I think that he’s doing better than many people expect, because he’s got people at either end of the spectrum mad at him,” he said.

Hawley said there would be many questions about the Kirk shooting “in terms of how the investigation is proceeding, how wide the net’s being cast.” Asked about Patel’s performance at the FBI, Hawley told reporters, “As long as the president has confidence in him.”

Said Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo.: “I think Kash Patel is doing a good job, and I hope he goes after these left-wing terrorist organizations, too. I’m sure I’ll be asking about that.”

During the Trump administration, the FBI has focused its resources on assisting with immigration enforcement, as well as assisting with a law enforcement crackdown on street crime in Washington. Sporadic firings and voluntary exits — including the departure of an experienced official who headed the FBI’s Salt Lake City office — have kept FBI employees on edge, multiple current and former law enforcement officials said. Thousands of FBI employees who took part in the bureau’s sprawling investigation into the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol still have worries about being targeted by the administration, which demanded a list of names of employees shortly after Trump took office.