Kash Patel, President Donald Trump's pick to lead the FBI, furiously hit back at what he described as "grotesque mischaracterizations" from Democrats at his confirmation hearing.

Patel told senators he would commit himself to "due process and transparency" if confirmed as the bureau's director.

Trump's nominee for FBI director will face probing questions from U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats about his credentials and history of making false claims about the agency he's been tapped to lead.