Senior Democrats have initiated an inquiry into FBI Director Kash Patel over allegations of personal use of a government Gulfstream jet for non-official travel.
Senior Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee have launched a formal inquiry into FBI Director Kash Patel amid allegations that he used an FBI Gulfstream aircraft for personal travel, including recreational and social trips.
The investigation was prompted by multiple media reports suggesting that Patel utilized the government jet to attend non-official events. Notably, these events included a sporting occasion in Pennsylvania where his girlfriend performed, as well as subsequent travel to Tennessee and Texas. The inquiry is being spearheaded by Jamie Raskin, the ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, alongside Sydney Kamlager-Dove.
In a formal letter addressed to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the lawmakers have requested comprehensive documentation regarding Patel’s recent travel. This includes flight logs, passenger lists, and any communications related to the trips in question.
One of the trips under scrutiny involved Patel’s flight to Pennsylvania State University on October 25, where he attended a wrestling event featuring his girlfriend. The following day, he reportedly returned to Nashville with her aboard the FBI aircraft. The lawmakers noted that this trip appeared to lack any visible connection to official FBI responsibilities.
The inquiry also raises questions about a later trip to San Angelo, Texas, where Patel allegedly spent four days at a luxury hunting property known as Boondoggle Ranch. This property is reportedly associated with Republican mega-donor Bubba Saulsbury. Lawmakers are questioning whether this visit served any legitimate government purpose.
As of now, the FBI has not publicly responded to the allegations. Although the Democratic members have formally requested the relevant documents by December 15, they currently lack subpoena power as the minority party, which limits their ability to compel compliance.
In their correspondence, Raskin and Kamlager-Dove emphasized that FBI aircraft are taxpayer-funded assets, asserting that government planes “are not personal property but belong to the American people.”
This inquiry is not the first instance of scrutiny regarding Patel’s use of FBI aircraft. In May, CBS News reported that Senate Democrats had requested a review from the Government Accountability Office concerning his travel. According to that report, Patel had flown multiple times to Las Vegas, where he owns a home, and to Nashville, where his girlfriend resides.
Under executive branch policy, FBI directors are required to use government aircraft for both official and personal flights to ensure secure communications and emergency readiness. However, any personal travel must be reimbursed at standard commercial airfare rates, including costs for any accompanying companions. While family and friends may accompany the director, their transportation expenses must also be repaid.
Lawmakers are now seeking to verify whether Patel adhered to these reimbursement procedures and whether his recent flights complied with federal ethics and travel regulations.
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