The Senate Judiciary Committee hearing was thrown into chaos on Tuesday as a long-standing feud between Democratic Senator Adam Schiff of California and FBI Director Kash Patel erupted into a full-blown shouting match. Tempers flared during a line of questioning about the decision to transfer Ghislaine Maxwell to a less secure prison, sparking accusations and insults that overshadowed the session’s agenda.

The altercation began when Schiff challenged Patel over the Bureau of Prisons’ rationale behind Maxwell’s relocation, insinuating that the decision was influenced by political motives from the White House. Schiff pointedly asked Patel if he thought the American public would accept his explanation as truth, without manipulation.

Patel, visibly agitated, retorted fiercely, accusing Schiff of having a history of misusing intelligence for political gains. "What I am doing is protecting this country … and combating the weaponization of intelligence by the likes of you," Patel shot back. He labeled Schiff a "liar" in past controversies such as the Russian interference investigation and the events of January 6, 2021, and went as far as to call him "the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate."

The sharp exchanges trace back to their previous encounters, particularly when Schiff was the chair of the House Intelligence Committee, and Patel was a staffer tasked with discrediting the investigation into the 2016 election interference. Their animosity only intensified over the years, with Patel's recent FBI confirmation hearings dredging up past social media posts that depicted him aggressively caricaturing Schiff.

As tensions peaked, Senator Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the panel, tried to restore order, while Chair Chuck Grassley intervened with multiple gavel strikes, demanding silence from the feuding parties.

Other topics like the handling of the Epstein case and the probe into the assassination of Charlie Kirk were also on the day's agenda, but the disputes between Patel and Schiff, and later with Senator Cory Booker, dominated the proceedings. Booker's forewarning to Patel about his precarious position under President Trump's administration led to another heated exchange, with Patel denouncing Booker as "an embarrassment to your country."

Following the hearing, Schiff took to social media to criticize Patel's performance, suggesting it was more about preserving his job than addressing the committee's concerns. The White House, on the other hand, commended Patel for standing up to Schiff, whom the President has derogatorily nicknamed "Pencil Neck."

Patel is scheduled to appear before the House Judiciary Committee on Wednesday, where more sparks are expected to fly given the heated atmosphere surrounding his tenure as FBI Director.