FBI Director Kash Patel has been accused of using a government-registered jet to attend his girlfriend’s wrestling event at Pennsylvania State University last weekend. The FBI has now responded to the allegation that Kash Patel broke no rules by using $60 million FBI jet to attend his girlfriend Alexis Wilkins' performance. Kash Patel's date night was spotted by Kyle Seraphin, a conservative former FBI agent turned FBI-critical podcaster.
“We’re in the middle of government shutdown where they’re not even gonna pay all of the employees that work for the agency that this guy heads,” said Seraphin on his Monday episode of The Kyle Seraphin Show. “And this guy is jetting off to hang out with his girlfriend in Nashville on our dime?” Seraphin accused the couple of “grifting off the American public.” “He flew a $60 million aircraft to go hang out there. Is that gross to anybody else?” he said.
ALSO READ: Kash Patel flew in $60million FBI jet to attend his girlfriend’s performance? Outrage grows over Trump aide’s alleged misuse
Patel, 45, appeared at the event alongside Wilkins, 26, who shared photos of the two together on social media. The event, co-founded earlier this year by the late Hulk Hogan, featured Wilkins performing a song as part of the wrestling program.
ALSO READ: How rich is Trey Yesavage? Blue Jays Rookie’s $760,000 salary stuns fans. You won't believe his staggering net worth
"Kash himself has significantly limited personal travel - but he’s allowed to take personal time on occasion to see family, friends or his longtime girlfriend. He doesn’t do it often. He works far more full weekends than he does otherwise. And maybe most importantly - ask anyone who works for him, he’s on duty 24/7 regardless," the statement said.
The FBI director is restricted from flying on commercial airlines and must use government planes for travel. In line with official protocol, Director Kash Patel makes advance reimbursements for such trips, said Ben Williamson, the FBI’s assistant director for public affairs, as per a TOI report.
Williamson explained that Patel personally takes several steps to reduce costs. Instead of flying from airports like Washington’s DCA (Ronald Reagan National Airport), Patel opts for government airfields, which are about 2.5 times cheaper. Williamson noted that former directors, including Chris Wray and James Comey, typically used DCA instead.
ALSO READ: No degree, no discussion? China tightens the grip on influencers and its new law has sparked massive debate online. Check details
Earlier this year, former FBI counterintelligence chief Frank Figliuzzi alleged that Kash Patel spends more time in nightclubs than at the FBI headquarters and no longer receives daily briefings. Reports indicated that Patel was splitting his time between Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, creating what insiders called “chaos” within the agency. Patel also received backlash for ordering polygraph tests to track down agents accused of leaking information — a move the FBI defended as essential for maintaining internal security.
“We’re in the middle of government shutdown where they’re not even gonna pay all of the employees that work for the agency that this guy heads,” said Seraphin on his Monday episode of The Kyle Seraphin Show. “And this guy is jetting off to hang out with his girlfriend in Nashville on our dime?” Seraphin accused the couple of “grifting off the American public.” “He flew a $60 million aircraft to go hang out there. Is that gross to anybody else?” he said.
ALSO READ: Kash Patel flew in $60million FBI jet to attend his girlfriend’s performance? Outrage grows over Trump aide’s alleged misuse
What do the flight logs show?
According to The Independent, flight logs show that a Justice Department-registered aircraft left Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia on October 25, landing about 40 minutes later at State College Regional Airport in Pennsylvania. Roughly two and a half hours later, the same jet reportedly flew to Nashville, Tennessee, where Wilkins lives.Patel, 45, appeared at the event alongside Wilkins, 26, who shared photos of the two together on social media. The event, co-founded earlier this year by the late Hulk Hogan, featured Wilkins performing a song as part of the wrestling program.
What FBI said
However, it is pertinent to note that this is not the first time that Kash Patel has come under fire for using FBI jets for personal reasons. This time, comparing Kash Patel's travels with his predecessors, like Chris Wray and James Comey.ALSO READ: How rich is Trey Yesavage? Blue Jays Rookie’s $760,000 salary stuns fans. You won't believe his staggering net worth
"Kash himself has significantly limited personal travel - but he’s allowed to take personal time on occasion to see family, friends or his longtime girlfriend. He doesn’t do it often. He works far more full weekends than he does otherwise. And maybe most importantly - ask anyone who works for him, he’s on duty 24/7 regardless," the statement said.
The FBI director is restricted from flying on commercial airlines and must use government planes for travel. In line with official protocol, Director Kash Patel makes advance reimbursements for such trips, said Ben Williamson, the FBI’s assistant director for public affairs, as per a TOI report.
Williamson explained that Patel personally takes several steps to reduce costs. Instead of flying from airports like Washington’s DCA (Ronald Reagan National Airport), Patel opts for government airfields, which are about 2.5 times cheaper. Williamson noted that former directors, including Chris Wray and James Comey, typically used DCA instead.
ALSO READ: No degree, no discussion? China tightens the grip on influencers and its new law has sparked massive debate online. Check details
Earlier this year, former FBI counterintelligence chief Frank Figliuzzi alleged that Kash Patel spends more time in nightclubs than at the FBI headquarters and no longer receives daily briefings. Reports indicated that Patel was splitting his time between Washington, D.C., and Las Vegas, creating what insiders called “chaos” within the agency. Patel also received backlash for ordering polygraph tests to track down agents accused of leaking information — a move the FBI defended as essential for maintaining internal security.
