FBI Director Kash Patel Faces Scrutiny For Inaccurately Saying Kirk Killer Had Been Caught
FBI Director Kash Patel is facing intense criticism over his handling of the investigation into the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a close ally of President Donald Trump, Reuters reports. Both current and former officials faulted him for wrongly declaring that a suspect had been taken into custody, a claim that quickly unraveled.
Just before police in Orem, Utah, provided their first official briefing about the shooting, Patel posted on social media that the alleged gunman had been arrested. That statement was swiftly contradicted by authorities on the ground, who clarified that two individuals had been interviewed and later released. The discrepancy fueled confusion for hours until the FBI issued its own correction.
The backlash was immediate, with law enforcement veterans calling Patel’s move damaging to the case. “At the outset of an investigation, much of the initial intelligence is typically wrong or slightly off. That’s why what he did yesterday has never been done by any FBI director before him, or any division leadership before,” said retired FBI agent Dan Brunner. “The investigators need to sort through all the initial intelligence before putting out factual evidence … FBI does not run investigations on social media.”
Inside the White House, Patel’s conduct was also criticized. An official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said his behavior was not up to standard. According to the source, “his performance is really not acceptable to the White House or the American public” and will be addressed.
Others voiced similar concerns. John Cohen, a former senior Homeland Security official, commented that Patel’s decision “is unorthodox and could be confusing in that details change quickly.”
Despite the uproar, the White House publicly rallied behind Patel, dismissing reports of internal discontent. Spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt accused Reuters of publishing a damaging piece at a delicate moment, saying, “This is a despicable story from anonymous sources clearly trying to sow distrust amongst the President’s team during a time of utmost unity. Kash Patel is leading the manhunt to catch the killer of our friend, and everyone is supporting him and trying to be as helpful as possible during this effort, including the President of the United States.”
The murder of Kirk, who was gunned down in front of an audience of 3,000 at a Utah college, marks one of the most shocking episodes of political violence in the U.S. this year. It also presents the first major trial of Patel’s leadership since he assumed command of the FBI.
Critics say Patel’s inexperience in law enforcement is evident, with multiple agents privately expressing doubts about his ability to guide such a sensitive investigation.
Since taking over, Patel has steered the bureau in new directions. Agents who normally handle corruption probes or counterterrorism cases have been reassigned to politically charged investigations, including inquiries targeting opponents of the president. He has also shifted personnel within Washington to focus on street-level crime.
In the process, Patel forced out dozens of employees viewed as disloyal to Trump. Three dismissed officials filed a lawsuit on Wednesday, hours before the shooting, claiming Patel admitted he was instructed to purge anyone involved in criminal cases tied to Trump’s first presidency.
Among those removed was the previous leader of the Salt Lake City FBI office, which now heads the Kirk investigation. His successor, FBI Special Agent in Charge Robert Bohls, updated the public Thursday morning, saying the firearm used had been recovered, though the gunman remained at large.
Later that day, investigators released two images of an individual they are seeking to identify. The bureau also offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to an arrest. The announcement drew criticism from conservative activist Laura Loomer, who said, “This is honestly embarrassing for the FBI and our country. What a slap in the face to Charlie Kirk.”
Patel’s own history with the bureau has been controversial. Before he became its director, he accused the FBI of harboring a “deep state” intent on undermining Trump. As a congressional aide, he played a central role in reviewing the bureau’s 2016 Russia investigation into Trump’s campaign.
Since assuming the directorship, Patel has embraced Trump’s agenda publicly, even appearing at social events with him—breaking from the tradition of past FBI chiefs who typically kept their distance from partisan politics.
There have also been moments of friction. In May, Patel told Congress that Trump’s proposed budget shortchanged the bureau, only to reverse himself the following day and endorse the cuts.
Earlier this year, Patel was also removed from his temporary role as acting head of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. No explanation was provided at the time, and Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll was appointed as his replacement.
{Matzav.com}