FBI Director Kash Patel is facing significant scrutiny and allegations of misconduct after reports emerged that he repeatedly assigned elite SWAT teams to provide personal security for his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins.
SWAT Team Assigned for National Anthem Performance
The controversy came to a head in April during the National Rifle Association's annual conference in Atlanta. Patel, the 45-year-old bureau head, assigned an entire SWAT team from the FBI's Atlanta field office to shadow his 27-year-old girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, as she prepared to perform the 'Star Spangled Banner' at the Georgia World Congress Center.
However, when the tactical agents assessed that the event venue was secure and Wilkins faced no apparent danger, they made the decision to leave before her performance concluded. This action reportedly left Director Patel 'outraged' when he discovered what had happened.
According to The New York Times, Patel allegedly 'ripped' into the team's commander for leaving his girlfriend unprotected and condemned the agents' dismissal as a 'failure of the chain of command.'
Pattern of Unusual Protection Details
This incident was not an isolated occurrence. Investigation reveals that Patel has regularly used his authority to grant his aspiring country singer girlfriend extensive protection that current and former FBI officials describe as 'highly unusual.'
In her home city of Nashville, Patel deployed 'elite FBI agents' who typically work with the local SWAT team to watch over Wilkins. Furthermore, bureau officials confirmed that agents from the tactical division in Salt Lake City, Utah were ordered to provide protective detail to Wilkins at a September event.
This assignment came despite the Salt Lake City team having just worked extensive hours following the nearby assassination of Charlie Kirk, raising questions about resource allocation priorities.
Mounting Criticism and Justifications
The extensive taxpayer-funded security arrangements have drawn sharp criticism from across the political spectrum. Christopher O'Leary, a former Marine and FBI agent who led high-risk missions, argued that 'The assignment of SWAT-qualified agents to guard his girlfriend are indicative of his lack of leadership experience, judgment and humility.'
Critics have noted that typical protocol does not extend this level of protection to girlfriends and spouses of officials. Helen Wray, wife of former FBI Director Christopher Wray, confirmed she only received security detail when traveling with her husband.
Even political allies have expressed concern. Grace Chong, an influencer working for Trump-ally Steve Bannon, questioned on X: 'Is she considered Kash's spouse? Is that why she's getting protection because if not, then why are we paying for this?'
Democratic Congressman Eric Swalwell highlighted what he perceived as hypocrisy, stating: 'I don't want anything to happen to [Patel] or his girlfriend. Protect her if she's threatened. It's just F'd up that he REFUSES to protect me and my kids from MULTIPLE specific death threats.'
In response to the growing controversy, the bureau has attempted to justify the protection, claiming Wilkins has faced numerous death threats since their relationship became public. A spokesperson told the Daily Mail: 'Ms. Wilkins is receiving a protective detail because she has faced hundreds of credible death threats related to her relationship with Director Patel.'
Wilkins herself has publicly shared examples of the abuse she receives, posting screengrabs on X that included death threats and violent messages, which she described as just 'a morning in my DMs.'
The White House has stood behind Patel without directly addressing the Wilkins situation, with spokesperson Abigail Jackson stating: 'FBI Director Patel is restoring integrity to the FBI and doing an excellent job implementing the President's agenda.'
Additional scrutiny has emerged regarding Patel's use of government jets, including revelations that he used official aircraft to attend a golf outing in Scotland and watch Wilkins perform. This is particularly notable given Patel's previous criticism of former Director Christopher Wray's use of government planes for personal travel.
In a 2023 interview, Patel specifically chided Wray by name, saying he did not need a 'government-funded G5 to go on vacation' and suggesting 'we ground that plane' or charge '$15,000 each time it takes off.'
