Kash Patel, President Trump’s pick to lead the FBI, wouldn’t acknowledge or sought to distance himself from a host of his past public statements as Democrats pressed him during his confirmation hearing on Thursday.

Democratic lawmakers cited numerous controversial statements Patel has made on podcasts and online, but Patel demurred at being associated with his past remarks or accused Democrats of taking his words out of context.

In response to questions from Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Patel seemed to imply he was unaware of the activities of a prison choir made up of Jan. 6 defendants that released the song “Justice for All” to raise money — a group he has promoted in the past.

“I'm not aware of that, sir, I didn't have anything to do with the recording,” he said.

In later questioning Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) noted Patel had boasted of his involvement.

“As a matter of fact, as you put it, to Steve Bannon on his show: ‘Then we went into a studio and recorded it, mastered it, digitized it, and put it as a song, now releasing it exclusively in the War Room.’ That was the J6 Prison Choir song,” Blumenthal said.

“We, we, we,” Sen. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) added later, noting Patel’s involvement.

Patel later said he was using the “proverbial we” when Schiff asked if Patel lied to Steve Bannon.

“I did not record that myself,” Patel said.

Patel also previously promoted the........

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