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.

It wasn’t an enjoyable night for birthday boy Pete Carroll and his Las Vegas Raiders on “Monday Night Football” against the division rival Los Angeles Chargers. Nothing went right for the 74-year-old head coach in a 20-9 defeat. Carroll is now the first NFL head coach to coach a game at the age of 74. Longtime nemesis and Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh evened the head-to-head record between the two at the NFL level to 5-5 with the victory. 

Raiders quarterback Geno Smith threw an interception on his very first throw of the night. Smith didn’t see Chargers safety Alohi Gilman lurking in zone coverage when he attempted to rifle a throw to wide receiver Tre Tucker, and Los Angeles capitalized on that error. Gilman batted the football into the air, and Chargers linebacker Daiyan Henley made the interception. 

Smith threw a second interception at the tail end of the first half, clearly losing patience. He chucked a deep ball into double coverage, and Los Angeles safety Tony Jefferson easily undercut the throw to intercept it on the Chargers’ 1-yard line. 

He tried to squeeze the football to the end zone once again with under six minutes left to play. However, he made the mistake of trying to whistle the football past four-time Pro Bowl safety Derwin James. James knocked the football away from the outstretched hands of Jakobi Meyers and into the waiting arms of Chargers cornerback Donte Jackson. Smith, who now has a 4-13 prime-time record, continued to wilt under the bright lights, throwing for 180 yards and three interceptions on 24 of 43 passing. Smith was sacked three times. 

Tight end Brock Bowers played after being questionable with a knee injury, but he didn’t look 100%. He totaled just 38 yards on five catches.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert picked up right where he left off with 2023 first-round wide receiver Quentin Johnston. Johnston broke out for five catches for 79 yards and two touchdowns to grab a 27-21 Week 1 win against the Kansas City Chiefs in Brazil. 

Herbert connected with him on a 60-yard bomb for the quarterback’s second touchdown of the night to extend the lead to 17-6 with 1:51 left in the half. Johnston’s three receiving touchdowns in two games are tied for the most in the NFL this season along with Amon-Ra St. Brown, Rome Odunze and Emeka Egbuka. Wiley veteran Keenan Allen accounted for the other touchdown with a toe drag in the back right corner of the end zone in the first quarter. Herbert finished the night with 242 yards passing and two touchdowns on 19 of 27 passing. 

Check out our takeaways from the game below:

Why the Chargers won

Los Angeles played a much cleaner game. Herbert was on point early, completing 9 of his first 14 passes and 19 of 27 overall. Their defense also created havoc from the opening whistle with the interception of Smith. On many of Smith’s key dropbacks on key third and fourth downs, he simply didn’t have open receivers to throw to. It seemed like Los Angeles had 12 men on the field with how suffocating its defense was. 

Why the Raiders lost

Losing the turnover battle three to one certainly ended up leading to a home-opening defeat. They also didn’t feature 2025 sixth overall pick running back Ashton Jeanty much despite Bowers not being 100%. Jeanty totaled only 43 yards on 11 carries, but it would have likely helped keep the Chargers’ pass rush at bay. 

Turning point

Herbert’s 60-yard touchdown pass to Johnston. On a night when the Raiders’ offense couldn’t find any room to operate, a multi-score lead felt insurmountable, and that ended up being the case. 

Highlight play(s)

Herbert’s first touchdown pass to Allen featured a slick toe drag for the game’s first score. The way he mirrored Herbert’s movements as his quarterback rolled out of the pocket allowed him to be available exactly where Herbert needed him to be.

James being able to turn his head while in coverage with Tucker in the middle of the end zone essentially snuffed out Las Vegas’ final shot to make this a ballgame in the fourth quarter. Not many players would have been able to get their head around and tip the ball up into the air to a teammate’s awaiting arms in the tight spot James was in. Truly a spectacular play. 

What’s next

The Chargers are now 2-0 for the second time in as many seasons under Harbaugh, while the Raiders fall to 1-1. The visiting Chargers will return home to host the 1-1 Denver Broncos in Week 3, while Las Vegas will make a cross-country trip to the Washington Commanders in Week 3.