Kash Patel, President Donald Trump’s nominee to be FBI director, defended his ability Thursday to lead the nation’s top law enforcement agency and addressed his past controversial remarks during his Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing.

Democrats have voiced serious concerns about Patel’s nomination, claiming that the Trump ally frequently peddles conspiracy theories and misinformation, has close associations with notable racists, and has vowed to weaponize the justice system to investigate the president’s political enemies.