FBI Director Kash Patel has launched a fierce defence of his leadership, dismissing a damning internal report as "100 percent false" and a politically motivated distraction orchestrated by Washington's "swamp."
Patel's Vehement Denial and Counter-Accusations
The 115-page dossier, compiled by an alliance of current and former agents, contained an extraordinary anecdote alleging Patel threw an embarrassing tantrum. The report claims that on September 11, the day after the assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk in Provo, Utah, Patel refused to disembark his plane without an FBI raid jacket.
According to the report, agents scrambled to find him a medium-sized jacket, eventually procuring one that belonged to a female agent. Patel was allegedly "fuming" upon receipt and erupted further when he noticed two Velcro patches were missing from the sleeves. He reportedly only left the plane after SWAT team members surrendered patches from their own uniforms.
Patel trashed this account in an interview with Fox News. "These people are worried about what I was wearing, what patches I was wearing? I was honoring my men and women at the FBI," he stated. He claimed an agent had simply handed him a jacket and a SWAT badge, which he was "happy" to wear.
He blamed the report on "anonymous sources" from the "Comey-Wray era" who "weaponized the DOJ." "Anonymous sources always lie, results DON'T," Patel asserted, pointing to his record. He cited the arrest of 25,000 violent felons in 2025, a 35% increase in capturing spies from Russia, China, and Iran, and the recovery of 6,000 missing children.
A Catalogue of Controversies and Internal Criticism
The report, obtained by the New York Post's Miranda Devine, paints a picture of an FBI in turmoil, describing it as "a rudderless ship" and "all f**ked up" under Patel's brief tenure. Barely six months into the role, the MAGA loyalist has been mired in multiple controversies beyond the jacket incident.
He faces mounting criticism for using a government jet to visit his country singer girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, 27, and for assigning an FBI SWAT team to provide her protective detail. He reportedly "ripped into" agents from the Atlanta field office who left an NRA event early after determining Wilkins was safe.
The dossier also criticises Patel for his handling of the Kirk assassination. He took to X to announce a subject was "in custody" just hours after the killing, only to retract the statement over an hour later. Sources revealed he was dining at Rao's in New York City that evening.
Internally, agents expressed deep concerns. Sources described Patel as "not very good" and "insecure," lacking the "requisite experience" for the role. Both he and his deputy, Dan Bongino, faced scathing criticism for an "unfortunate obsession with social media" and self-promotion. Bongino was labelled "something of a clown" by multiple agents.
One source recalled Bongino telling agents "the truth is for chumps," a remark that left staff "shocked, offended and appalled." Many agents said they learned of internal operations via social media posts rather than official channels.
Political Backdrop and White House Support
Patel's appointment followed a blistering 51-49 party-line vote in the Senate, part of a series of contentious Trump nominees confirmed without bipartisan support. A former public defender and Trump administration staffer, he once vowed to "shut down the FBI building" and accused the bureau of being part of the "Deep State."
Despite the backlash, the White House has stood by him. Spokesperson Abigail Jackson told the Daily Mail, "FBI Director Patel is restoring integrity to the FBI and doing an excellent job implementing the President’s agenda."
Patel also attacked Democrat Congressman Eric Swalwell for referencing the report, making a pointed allusion to Swalwell's alleged past association with a Chinese spy.
The report did acknowledge one positive shift: under Patel, the FBI is making "case work and threats the priority" over the Biden-era DEI policies it criticised. However, the overwhelming tone from contributing personnel was negative, with anecdotal reporting skewing "80/20" against the current leadership.
