FBI Director Kash Patel's jet use delayed investigations, Dem alleges
BBC World
February 25, 2026
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Senate democrats are calling for an investigation into fbi director kash patel over allegations that his personal use of the agency's private jet has delayed critical investigations. sen dick durbin, the top democrat on the senate judiciary committee, cited a whistleblower report claiming that patel's travels caused delays in responding to high-profile cases, including the fatal shooting of conservative commentator charlie kirk and a mass shooting at brown university. durbin claims that patel's jet use led to a shortage of pilots, forcing the fbi's shooting reconstruction team to drive instead of fly to incidents, thereby slowing their response.
fbi spokesperson ben williamson denied the allegations, calling them "false" and "egregious." he emphasized that patel was in washington d.c. during the time of the brown university attack and that the fbi's response to both cases was timely and appropriate. patel himself defended his recent trip to italy to celebrate the us men's hockey team's olympic win, stating that the visit was planned months in advance and focused on meetings with italian officials.
the issue of fbi director jet use has been a point of contention for years, with past directors from both parties facing scrutiny over their travel habits. durbin has now asked the government accountability office and the justice department's inspector general to investigate patel's actions, arguing that such delays in critical law enforcement responses are unacceptable during a time of heightened security concerns.
this controversy highlights broader questions about how federal law enforcement resources are managed and whether they are being used appropriately. with ongoing investigations into serious crimes and international threats, any perceived misuse of assets like the fbi's private jet raises concerns about public trust and the agency's operational efficiency.
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/25/2026