FBI Director Kash Patel, a known hockey enthusiast, is facing intense scrutiny over his recent four-day trip to Italy for the Winter Olympics. The journey, which reportedly cost taxpayers as much as $75,000 for the use of an FBI Gulfstream jet, has sparked backlash due to a schedule that included limited official duties and significant personal activities.
Schedule Details Reveal Minimal Official Engagements
According to reports from The New York Times, Patel's itinerary in Italy featured sparse official meetings. On Saturday, his schedule listed only a 20-minute briefing with the Olympic security team and a 30-minute tour of a joint security operations venue, followed by a private lunch with an unspecified guest. Sunday was even lighter, with just two events: attending Team USA's gold medal hockey match against Canada and his flight back to the United States.
Arrival and Initial Activities
Patel arrived in Rome on Thursday evening and had dinner with the U.S. ambassador to Italy, Tilman Fertitta, who is also the billionaire owner of the Houston Rockets. Friday included an hourlong meeting with the head of Italy's domestic security and intelligence agency, a photo-op with Italian law enforcement, an aperitivo at the Italian Ministry of the Interior, and other ceremonial events. Later that day, he traveled to Milan to watch the U.S. men's hockey team defeat Slovakia, securing their spot in the gold medal final.
Backlash Over Taxpayer-Funded Travel
Critics have pointed to Patel's past comments where he criticized former FBI Director Chris Wray for using a government-funded jet for personal travel. This trip has reignited those concerns, especially after Patel was previously scrutinized for using a bureau jet to attend a wrestling event where his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, performed. He defended that move by citing FBI policy requiring the director to travel on government aircraft for secure communication access, a rule in place since 2011.
FBI's Defense of the Trip
FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson stated that the Olympic trip was planned months in advance to prepare for the bureau's security role at the 2028 Los Angeles Games. He emphasized that Patel had productive meetings focused on joint counterterrorism coordination, transnational crime enforcement, extradition of high-value targets, and Olympic security planning with allies. Williamson also condemned the leaking of Patel's minute-by-minute schedule as a criminal act that jeopardizes security.
Reactions and Broader Implications
The Times noted that Patel's schedule generally aligned with a broader outline provided to media, including about six public and two classified meetings. However, the detailed schedule revealed long stretches of personal time, with sources close to Patel claiming he embedded work elements into much of his free time. Former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe criticized the trip as completely inappropriate, highlighting the bureau's ongoing responsibilities, such as potential military action against Iran and the investigation into Nancy Guthrie's kidnapping.
This controversy underscores ongoing debates over government officials' use of taxpayer funds for travel that blends official duties with personal interests, raising questions about accountability and transparency in federal agencies.
