5 fiery moments from Kash Patel's explosive Senate hearing

Driving the news: Patel repeatedly clashed with Democrats on the committee, with viral clips flooding the internet.

• Patel exchanged barbs, which turned into shouting matches, with Sens. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Adam Schiff (D-Calif.).
• In one case, Patel and Schiff's exchange over Epstein became so heated that Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) banged his gavel and demanded silence.
• The FBI did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday afternoon.

Here's a look at the clashes from Tuesday's hearing.

Booker slams Patel over Trump ties

Booker and Patel exchanged sharp words after Booker questioned the FBI director's conduct.

• "Here's the thing, Mr. Patel," Booker said. "I think you're not gonna be around long. I think this might be your last oversight hearing. Because, as much as you supplicate yourself to the will of Donald Trump and not the Constitution of the United States of America, Donald Trump has shown us in his first term and in this term, he is not loyal to people like you. He will cut you loose."
• The two shouted over each other, with Patel calling Booker's words "false information" and insisting it was his time to speak. "I am not afraid of you!" Booker yelled back.

Patel to Schiff: "You are a political buffoon!"

Schiff asked Patel to explain who made the decision to move Ghislaine Maxwell to a minimum security prison camp in August.

• Patel said it was the Bureau of Prisons that moved her, igniting an immediate challenge from Schiff and a shouting match between the two.
• "You want the American people to believe that? Do you think they're stupid?" Schiff exclaimed.
• After denying Schiff's claim, Patel went off: "You are the biggest fraud to ever sit in the United States Senate. You are a disgrace to this institution and an utter coward!"
• "You are a political buffoon at best," he added.

Grassley slammed his gavel to cut off the argument.

• "Both of you be quiet!" he yelled.

Welch questions Patel on Kirk investigation

Zoom in: Sen. Peter Welch (D-Vt.) questioned Patel about the FBI's premature claim that it had caught the suspect in Kirk's fatal shooting suspect before an arrest was made. The suspect, Tyler Robinson, has since been charged with murder.

• "So, that was a mistake," Welch said.
• Patel responded, "I don't see it as a mistake. I see it as something working with the public to identify that there was a subject in custody."

• Welch asked, "So if you put out a statement that says 'we got our man' and in fact it turns out that you didn't have your man, that's not a mistake?"
• "But that's not what I said," Patel replied. Welch moved on.

Welch grills Patel on UFC fights

Welch grilled Patel about using an FBI plane to fly to Las Vegas to attend a UFC fight with Mel Gibson. Patel said he lives there.

• "On April 5, you attended a hockey game in New York City. You don't live there, right?" Welch asked.
• Patel replied, "No, I don't."
• Welch criticized Patel use of private jets. "You've got to use some judgment here," he said.

Blumenthal grills Patel over FBI firings

Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) pressed Patel over claims that the FBI took personnel directions from the White House.

• Three former FBI officials sued Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi over allegations that they were fired on orders from the White House.

What they're saying: "I think your testimony confirms that, in fact, you've taken direction from the White House in those retaliatory firings," Blumenthal told Patel.

• "It literally does not," Patel replied.
• "Because you've acknowledged that in fact they have been in contact with you about personnel decisions," the senator responded.
• "Do not put words in my mouth," Patel said. "We're on the record."

More from Axios:

• Patel says "original sin" in Epstein case was Acosta's handling
• Patel claims "no credible information" that Epstein trafficked minors to others
• Bondi clarifies: "Hate speech" won't be prosecuted