Senator Calls for Investigation Into FBI Director's Alleged Aircraft Misuse
FBI Director Kash Patel's extensive personal use of bureau aircraft may face serious scrutiny following a formal request for an investigation. On Tuesday, Senator Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, demanded a probe into Patel's travel practices after a credible whistleblower came forward with concerning allegations.
Whistleblower Alleges Emergency Response Delays
The whistleblower claims that Patel's "excessive misuse" of FBI jets has directly hindered the agency's ability to respond to critical emergencies. According to Durbin, these alleged personal flights have created pilot and aircraft shortages that delayed investigative teams during high-profile incidents.
Specifically, the whistleblower alleges that during the September 2025 assassination of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University, the FBI's shooting reconstruction team was delayed by at least one day. This delay reportedly occurred because necessary resources were unavailable "caused by the Director's personal flights."
Brown University Shooting Response Questioned
During the December 2025 Brown University shooting that left two dead and nine injured, Patel was reportedly visiting elderly parents in South Florida. According to the whistleblower, the only available FBI jet had been reserved for another team that typically wouldn't respond to mass shooting scenes.
As a result, an evidence response team had to drive overnight through a snowstorm from Virginia to the Rhode Island campus, arriving at 9 a.m. the following morning to begin processing evidence immediately. An FBI spokesperson disputed this account to MS NOW, stating the Brown University case was initially a "state-led homicide investigation" with FBI assistance, and that Boston field office agents arrived at the scene approximately two hours after the shooting.
Personal Travel Under Scrutiny
Durbin highlighted specific instances of Patel's personal travel that raised concerns. The senator noted that Patel used an FBI Gulfstream jet to fly to Milan, Italy, during the 2026 Winter Olympics to drink beer with the U.S. men's hockey team and create what Durbin described as "pretty unsavory social media content."
This is not the first time Patel's use of FBI aircraft has been questioned. Last year, he attracted attention for using bureau jets to travel to Pennsylvania to watch his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, perform at a wrestling event.
Formal Investigation Requested
Durbin sent letters to both the Government Accountability Office and the Justice Department's Inspector General on Tuesday, formally requesting an investigation into whether Patel's travel has "hindered the agency's ability to conduct critical investigative tasks."
In his correspondence, Durbin wrote: "Since his confirmation as Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel has seemingly engaged in what amounts to irresponsible joyriding on DOJ and FBI-operated aircraft at the expense of the American taxpayer and to the detriment of ongoing Bureau operations."
The senator's call for investigation comes as Patel prepares for upcoming testimony before the Senate Judiciary Committee, where these allegations are likely to be a central topic of discussion.
