Lawmakers Press Patel Over FBI Travel and BMW Spending as Grassley Seeks Flight Records
Updated
Updated · ms.now · Jul 9
Lawmakers Press Patel Over FBI Travel and BMW Spending as Grassley Seeks Flight Records
3 articles · Updated · ms.now · Jul 9
Summary
Chuck Grassley joined Judiciary Democrats in demanding records on Kash Patel’s FBI aircraft use and the bureau’s purchase of BMW X5s, widening scrutiny of the director’s taxpayer-funded travel and spending.
Whistleblower accounts cited by Democrats accuse Patel of seeking perks on official trips, including helicopter tours, jet skiing and a VIP Pearl Harbor snorkeling visit around the USS Arizona, where 1,177 service members died.
Grassley asked whether Patel reimbursed the FBI for any personal travel on bureau aircraft and why he chose BMWs over the usual Chevrolet Suburbans; the FBI now says Patel repaid all personal expenses and the BMWs were idle State Department vehicles.
Democrats also said Patel’s travel culture hurt morale, alleging staff in Brussels were demoted over entertainment arrangements and that strains from such trips may have contributed to the international operations chief’s resignation.