Sign In
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
By signing in or creating an account, you agree with Associated Broadcasting Company's Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy.
New Delhi: FBI Director Kash Patel is facing scrutiny for reportedly using a government jet for a personal trip to attend an event with his girlfriend. Flight records seemingly suggest that Patel used a government-registered jet last weekend to visit his girlfriend’s wrestling event at Pennsylvania State University.
The chief of the FBI visited the Real American Freestyle event with his partner Alexis Wilkins, a 26-year-old country singer. She performed at the show and shared photos with Patel at the event on social media.
According to a report by the Independent, flight data reveals that Patel used a jet registered with the Department of Justice for a 40-minute flight from Virginia's Manassas Regional Airport to State College Regional Airport on October 25. The same aircraft, around two and a half hours later, flew to Nashville, Tennessee, where the residence of his girlfriend is located.
In recent times, Patel has been slammed for apparently using government aircraft frequently for personal use. Notably, the FBI director has to use official aircraft for any kind of travel for to access secure communications equipment. Also, he has to reimburse the government the cost equal to a commercial ticket for personal trips. However, he has reportedly visited Nashville and sporting events frequently due to personal reasons rather than FBI business.
Patel has countered the critics by saying that the usage of government aircraft even for personal travels has been made mandatory by the Congress. He has reportedly combined official FBI field visits with trips to the residence of his girlfriend in Nashville many times.
