New Delhi, Sept. 16 -- FBI Director Kash Patel will appear before the Senate Congressional committee on Tuesday (September 16) in what appears to be a contentious hearing, as he confronts skeptical Democrats over his leadership and handling of both the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation and a purge of FBI officials.

The hearing marks Patel's first appearance before the committee since his January confirmation, when he pledged not to pursue political retribution as director. Since then, however, Patel has faced mounting scrutiny over the FBI's direction.

The session offers perhaps the clearest test of whether he can convince the country that the FBI, under his watch, can avoid compounding its mistakes in a time of political violenc...