Vermont U.S. Senator dodges $12m charge

By Ted Cohen

Subscribe

FBI Director Kash Patel turned the tables on U.S. Sen. Peter Welch, asking about his blossoming bank account.

"I want to know how your wealth grew to $12 million," Patel asked Vermont's junior senator.

Welch thought the had Patel cornered until he - Welch - was hit where it hurts: his trust fund.

The senator looked down, clearly flustered, unable to answer.

During a tense hearing., Patel confronted Welch on a 4,000 percent wealth increase since he took office.

RedState.com called it "a cage match."

"Welch had been insinuating that Patel, President Trump, and the FBI planned to interfere in the November elections," writes Red State's Bob Hoge. "He asked Patel a question, but then, of course, as so often happens in these circus shows, immediately interrupted him."

"…why are you being such a panderer to President Trump, who's still claiming that he won the 2020 election, and who has said the only way Democrats can win in 2026 is if they cheat? Do you believe that?" Welch asked.

"What I believe in is the rule of law. What I will always believe –" Patel began.

"The rule of law is the president saying in advance it's been rigged," Welch interjected.

"Are you done with your campaign ad, by the way?" Patel shot back.

Patel then turned the exchange personal, telling Welch: "I want to know how your wealth increased 4,000% since you became a United States senator, that's a magic act all Americans should be aware of."

Welch made a personal fortune as a personal injury lawyer and increased it substantially as an investor in stocks and mutual funds.

Although a firm number is not available, he's estimated to be worth as much as $13 million.

In 2021, he was involved in a stock trade disclosure incident:

Welch has been involved in insider trading incidents on more than one occasion.

Specifically, he was caught a second time when his wife's sale of ExxonMobil stock resulted in a STOCK Act violation. He recently said that he and his wife will no longer trade individual stocks.