House Judiciary Democrats have launched a probe into FBI Director Kash Patel’s use of the bureau’s jet, accusing him of having “commandeered U.S. government aircraft for personal joyrides.”
Patel’s travels have sparked scrutiny as he’s been seen jetting to meet with his girlfriend, attend sporting events and go on excursions.
“You used a $60 million government jet for an overnight date with your girlfriend, a Scottish golfing excursion with your buddies, and a trip to a luxury hunting retreat called ‘Boondoggle Ranch,’” Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the panel, wrote to Patel.
“Why should American taxpayers be footing the bill for private jets every time you decide to hang out with your golf buddies, see your girlfriend, or go to your ‘boondoggle’ escape?”
The FBI did not respond to a request for comment.
For security reasons, FBI directors are required to travel with the bureau’s personal jet and must reimburse the government at the cost of a commercial flight.
Patel, however, was a visible critic of the jet use of his predecessor Christopher Wray
“Chris Wray doesn’t need a government-funded G-5 jet to go to vacation. Maybe we ground that plane – $15,000 every time it takes off,” he said when appearing on “The Glenn Beck Program” in 2024.
“Just a thought.”
And earlier this year he suggested the Trump administration was not engaging in the type of behavior he previously criticized.
“We’re not the guys running around on private jets and somebody maybe in Congress should ask for how many flights on a private jet Director [James] Comey took, or my predecessor, Director Wray took, and how many personal trips they took,” Patel told Fox News in May.
Raskin is now pushing to do just that, asking for all flight records, “justifications for each passenger’s travel,” and any communications surrounding the flights.
Patel reportedly pulled the FBI jet from the flight tracking website Flight Aware after reporting over his trips to see his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins.
Shortly thereafter, Patel also fired the head of the Critical Incident Response Group, which oversees FBI pilots, over reported frustration at his flight logs being publicly available.
In October, Patel flew to State College, Pa., to watch her perform and then flew to her home in Nashville, Tenn., the next day.
Patel has also reportedly used the jet to attend a hockey game with Mel Gibson, fly with friends to Scotland for a golfing trip, and attended a hunting retreat.
Beyond travel with his girlfriend, Patel has also come under fire for tapping SWAT team members to serve as part of the security detail for Wilkins. Prior FBI directors’ spouses have received protective details while living with the director, though those teams have not been composed of agents trained to respond to terror threats, shooting and other critical incidents.
Patel was also the subject Monday of a 115-page report compiled by active and former agents criticizing his leadership of the agency.