All articles tagged with #patel
FBI Director Kash Patel publicly announced arrests in a foiled White House UFC plot while the investigation was still active, prompting frustration from federal agents who feared the disclosures could hamper ongoing work; five suspects were in custody and 26 usernames were under investigation, with the case tied to an Ohio teen, Tycen Proper, and involving drones and gunfire threats at the South Lawn during the event.
CNN’s Aaron Blake argues that Kash Patel’s congressional testimony exemplified the Trump administration’s disdain for accountability: Patel attacked lawmakers, repeated disputed claims about Sen. Chris Van Hollen and an El Salvador meeting, and invoked a 'convicted gangbanging rapist' line that he’d misrepresented. The piece notes the El Salvador incident involved staged drinks and campaign funds, not taxpayer dollars, and points to a broader pattern of false statements in testimony as checks and balances fray under a GOP-dominated Congress.
Three former FBI agents who worked on the Trump-2020 investigation—the Arctic Frost probe—filed a federal suit in D.C. accusing FBI Director Kash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi, along with the FBI and DOJ, of unlawfully firing them for political reasons; they seek class-wide relief for dozens of other agents and allege due-process violations and improper disclosure of grand jury materials.
Iran-linked Handala hacktivists claim to have breached FBI Director Kash Patel’s personal Gmail, releasing photos and emails; the FBI says the data is historical and does not include government information, and has taken steps to mitigate risk, while Handala seeks publicity and a $10 million Rewards for Justice offer remains in place.
FBI Director Kash Patel told a House Intelligence Committee hearing that about 10 agents who worked on the Mar-a-Lago classified-documents probe were fired last month after internal reviews found ethics violations. He declined to specify the violations due to pending litigation, noting other agents had examined the matter. Critics say the firings bypass due process and appear politically motivated amid prosecutions of Trump, while Patel framed them as necessary discipline based on career investigations.
FBI Director Kash Patel joined Team USA in the Milan locker room to celebrate Olympic gold, renewing questions about his personal travel on a government plane amid ongoing Mar-a-Lago investigations and past critiques of using the FBI jet; supporters call it patriotic, critics point to resource use, while officials defend the trip as work-related and reimbursed, with White House backing.
A watchdog group filed a complaint alleging the DOJ narrowed the Epstein Files Transparency Act release by omitting communications from Attorney General Bondi, Deputy Attorney General Blanche, and FBI Director Patel; the DOJ contends it has released millions of pages in compliance, while the watchdog calls for an inspector general audit to ensure full disclosure of relevant communications.
Missouri Attorney General Andrew Bailey has been appointed as co-deputy director of the FBI alongside Dan Bongino, marking a first for the agency and following internal conflicts over the handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. Bailey, a decorated war veteran and former state attorney general, joins FBI leadership amid ongoing organizational changes and disputes.