WASHINGTON – House Democrats are demanding that FBI Director Kash Patel provide full records of his use of government aircraft amid reports that he used the agency’s jets for personal trips.
In a letter sent Monday, Representatives Jamie Raskin of Maryland and Sydney Kamlager-Dove of California cited media accounts that Patel traveled on FBI aircraft to attend a wrestling match at Pennsylvania State University, where his girlfriend performed the national anthem, as well as trips to a Texas hunting resort and a golfing excursion to Scotland with friends. The lawmakers asked why taxpayers should cover such flights.
The letter also criticized Patel for reportedly firing Steven Palmer, head of the FBI’s Critical Incident Response Group, after news of the trips emerged. Palmer was the third leader of the group, which oversees the agency’s aviation operations, to be removed under Patel. The Democrats argued that these firings weakened the FBI’s ability to respond to emergencies, noting recent bomb threats at Reagan National Airport.
Raskin and Kamlager-Dove called Patel’s actions a “shameless and brazen abuse of [his] position” and demanded he provide all records related to non-official travel, including passengers and communications on Justice Department or FBI-owned planes during the second Trump administration. They emphasized that federal rules require reimbursement for non-official flights and transparency about travelers.
Patel has previously dismissed reports of his private jet use as “baseless rumors” and defended his girlfriend against attacks online. He did not directly address his travel or the firing of Palmer. The scrutiny comes amid wider criticism of his leadership, including a 115-page report from current and former agents questioning his experience and handling of high-profile investigations. The White House has denied that President Trump is considering removing Patel.