After months of slow burning controversies around his agency, from the handling of the investigation into Charlie Kirk’s murder to the bungled release of Epstein files, FBI Director Kash Patel will face Senate and House lawmakers at two highly anticipated hearings.

Lawmakers are expected to push Patel, a Donald Trump loyalist and right-wing firebrand, to explain to a questioning public whether he is truly equipped to run the nation’s top law enforcement agency and to confront doubters who worry he’s stripped the bureau of some of its credibility.

Before Kirk, a friend of Patel, was murdered last week, the FBI director had been preparing to focus at least some of his testimony on his efforts to relitigate the 2016 Russia investigation, and what Patel has said was a plot by the FBI to undermine Trump, a source familiar with the matter told CNN.

But as anger has grown against Patel’s handling of the investigation into the shooting – including in interviews this week – he’s likely to face pointed questions regarding whether he can handle the job.

On Monday, Patel took the unprecedented step of discussing evidence on air, telling Fox News the FBI had located DNA from a towel and screwdriver found near the gun they believe was used to kill Kirk and have matched the DNA to that of the alleged shooter

Some inside the Justice Department have voiced concern that Patel’s airing of evidence could hamper later prosecution of the accused shooter, two sources familiar with the matter told CNN.

Patel previously came under heavy criticism after he hastily announced Wednesday that the FBI had a “subject” in custody for Kirk’s murder, only to walk it back two hours later. The blunder infuriated officials inside the Justice Department and other law enforcement agencies assisting in the manhunt and did little to abate concerns over his leadership.

Still, Patel is touting his own role in the eventual capture of the alleged shooter by noting he had pushed for publicly releasing the images collected by law enforcement. The alleged shooter’s father subsequently recognized his son from one of the images.

“I made an executive decision on an investigative and operational need,” Patel said on Fox News on Monday, adding that “it turned out to be the right move.”

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley said had full confidence in Patel and downplayed his public relations errors during the investigation.

Pressed by CNN’s Maju Raju on how Patel has acted in the Kirk probe, Grassley responded, “so he announced two things that turned out to be a mistake. Everybody makes a mistake.”

Patel also received a possible vote of confidence from the president Monday, appearing with him, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and others in the Oval Office.

Purge of FBI staff and the Epstein files

Democrats are expected to push Patel on his purge of senior staff inside the bureau and allegations made by three former agents who filed a lawsuit last week that accused the director of dismissing the former agents for political reasons.

That lawsuit also claimed that Patel and his senior staff were making decisions, at least in part, because of reactions on social media – an allegation that has only gained traction during the Kirk assassination investigation.

Beginning on his first day in office, Patel was a key figure in handling so-called “Epstein files.” Patel and his deputy, Dan Bongino, promised alongside Bondi to release as much evidence as possible that was gathered against accused sex-trafficker Jeffrey Epstein — a promise they reneged on several months later.

As the DOJ and the FBI faced public outrage over decision, Patel faced a second, internal crisis as Bongino threatened to quit his post. The threat came amid a clash between Patel, Bongino and Bondi over whether the two men were behind media reports that said the FBI wanted more information released but was ultimately stymied by the Department of Justice, an allegation they denied.

Bongino has so far remained on the job.

Patel has also repeatedly said the FBI is revisiting a long-held grievance from allies of the president: that the criminal probe into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia was a “hoax” intended to tank his campaign.

Republicans on the House and Senate committees hope to focus their questioning on Patel’s allegations that past directors and leaders in the FBI tried to hide away documents in burn bags behind locked doors at FBI headquarters.

While details of any criminal investigation into those involved in the Russia investigation are still scant, the DOJ is reportedly conducting another investigation into former FBI Director James Comey and former CIA Director John Brennan, though it is not clear what crime they are being investigated for.

CNN’s Hannah Rabinowitz and Evan Perez contributed to this report.

Israel has launched its ground incursion into Gaza City, two Israeli officials told CNN early Tuesday.

Israel in August approved a plan to take over and occupy the heavily bombarded city, which it said is one of the last remaining Hamas strongholds.

The incursion began on the outskirts of Gaza City, where the Israeli military has escalated its airstrikes and accelerated its destruction of high-rise towers over the last week. One of the officials said the ground incursion is going to be “phased and gradual” at the beginning.

The ground incursion was supposed to proceed only after the Israeli military forced the evacuation of the densely populated urban area, but only a fraction of the population has left so far.

The United Nations warned last month that Israel’s plans to invade Gaza City would put about 1 million Palestinians who live there at risk of being forcibly displaced. On Monday, an Israeli military official said an estimated 320,000 Palestinians had fled the area so far.

The incursion began with a renewed wave of Israeli strikes, which saw casualties, including children, stream into the enclave’s depleted hospitals. Dozens of injured Palestinians were brought overnight to hospitals near Gaza City, including Al-Shifa Hospital and the Baptist Hospital, according to local officials.

Videos obtained by CNN showed the bodies of multiple bloodied children arriving at hospitals in northern Gaza. Two adults can be seen in one video screaming out in pain as they grieve over the bodies of their children, covered in white shrouds.

By Jourdan Rodrigue, Daniel Popper and Sarah Jean Maher

The Los Angeles Chargers shut down the Raiders on Monday night, limiting quarterback Geno Smith to 180 yards passing and intercepting him three times in a 20-9 victory in Las Vegas.

The Chargers allowed only a trio of field goals by Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson and held Las Vegas to 218 total yards of offense. Justin Herbert completed 19 of 27 passes for 242 yards, with two touchdown passes and no interceptions.

L.A. also played much of the game without star pass rusher Khalil Mack, who left in the first half with an elbow injury and did not return.

Big night for Chargers defense …

The Chargers are atop the AFC West thanks to a suffocating performance from Jesse Minter’s defense. They picked Smith off three times. They did not allow a touchdown. They held the Raiders under 4 yards per play. No quarterback produced more explosive plays than Smith in Week 1, and the Raiders led the NFL in explosive pass rate, according to TruMedia. Against the Chargers, the Raiders only totaled three explosive passes. All of them came on short Smith throws and yards-after-the-catch opportunities.

The Chargers put a roof over the deep part of the field. Two of Smith’s interceptions were on down-the-field throws, including Donte Jackson’s in the end zone in the fourth quarter. The Chargers allowed the fewest points in the league last season. They have allowed 30 through two games this season. The Chargers dominated the Raiders without starting safety Elijah Molden, who missed the game with a hamstring injury. And they lost Mack in the first half. The Chargers held Raiders tight end Brock Bowers to five catches for 38 yards. — Daniel Popper, Chargers beat writer

… but an up-and-down night for the offense

The defense had to overcome a pretty up-and-down performance from the Chargers’ offense. Herbert finished with solid numbers, but the Chargers only scored three points in the second half. Running backs Najee Harris and Omarion Hampton combined for 52 rushing yards on 16 carries. The Chargers only converted three of their 10 third-down attempts.

The defense had to bail out the offense in the fourth quarter when coach Jim Harbaugh went for it on fourth-and-1 from the 50-yard line. The Chargers attempted a jet sweep handoff to receiver Derius Davis, but Herbert and Davis botched the exchange. The Raiders took over in Chargers territory, down 11 points. The defense got the stop when Derwin James broke up a pass intended for receiver Jakobi Meyers in the end zone, and the tipped pass fell into the arms of Jackson. The defense forced a turnover on downs later in the fourth quarter. The Chargers took over at the Raiders’ 29-yard line, and Hampton lost a fumble on the first play of the drive. The defense forced another turnover on downs on the next series. Minter’s unit salvaged a pretty sloppy day from the Chargers’ offense. — Popper

Bowers nearly invisible

A week after he went for more than 100 yards on just five catches, Raiders second-year star tight end Bowers all but vanished from much of Monday night’s game. He was targeted once in the first half for a catch and a 5-yard gain, but it took until the third quarter for him to see his second target. That was a 9-yard catch on third-and-5, and after six more plays, Smith went to Bowers again on third-and-6 for a 9-yard pickup. Smith targeted Bowers in the end zone but missed him on the same drive, which dragged for 11:15 between the third and fourth quarters but only resulted in three points. Bowers was listed as “questionable” for the game after injuring his knee in a Week 1 win at New England. — Jourdan Rodrigue, senior NFL writer

Smith’s interceptions

With Bowers nearly non-existent in the passing game on Monday, it felt like Smith was pressing to try to make plays happen. His first interception was on the very first play from scrimmage, but the next two came after either a negative or no-gain second down, both on third down. Smith’s second interception was on a third-and-6 after an incomplete pass the previous play, and his third interception was on a third-and-15 after losing five yards on a pass behind the line of scrimmage to Ashton Jeanty. James batted the ball on the play into the hands of Jackson. Overall, the Chargers broke up or batted away 15 passes. — Rodrigue

Brady in the coaches’ booth

At the Raiders’ home opener, it became clearer than ever (and it was already pretty clear) that the organization was debuting two new quarterbacks: Smith and Tom Brady. Brady, now a minority owner of the team, not only used the spotlight of the Prime Time game (and his fancy new stadium) to announce a flag football game/entertainment venture in Saudi Arabia in March, but also was caught by the broadcast in the coaches’ box with a headset on during the game. According to reporters and analysts on the ESPN broadcast, Brady, who also broadcasts games for FOX, speaks with offensive coordinator Chip Kelly multiple times per week to discuss the game plan, among other topics. The crew discussed this as Brady was shown in the booth on the broadcast, wearing the headset. Head coach Pete Carroll denied this after the game, saying the report was “not accurate.” However, Carroll allowed that Brady does have conversations with people on the team, including himself. — Rodrigue

(Photo of Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley celebrating a stop against the Raiders in the fourth quarter: Sean M. Haffey / Getty Images)