Kash Patel Is Using Taxpayer Money for His Girlfriend, Jet-Setting
FBI Director Kash Patel has been criticized for using taxpayer-funded resources, like government aircraft and SWAT protection, for personal gain.
When his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, performed at an NRA convention, she had an FBI SWAT team as bodyguards. The agents were members of a special unit trained to rescue hostages and enter barricaded buildings, according to The New York Times. Once the team secured the convention center, they left. But Patel didn’t like it.
He reportedly lambasted the team commander for leaving Wilkins unprotected while she chatted with fans on the convention field.
This is just the latest time that Patel has used taxpayer-funded resources for his own personal activities. He dealt with specialized FBI agents like himself and his girlfriend’s private security, and traveled around the world on government planes, according to the Times.
Former FBI agent Christopher O’Leary criticized Patel’s actions, telling the Times that his use of the private plane and SWAT officers to deal with his girlfriend “is indicative of his lack of experience in leadership, judgment and humility.”
And Patel’s right-wing allies aren’t happy either: “Is she considered Kash’s wife?” asked Grace Chong, an influencer who works for Steve Bannon, on
Patel claims Wilkins has this level of protection because she has received death threats. But that doesn’t explain his many trips – to see her and for other personal and professional reasons.
An FBI spokesperson said The Wall Street Journal Earlier this month, Patel had made nearly a dozen personal trips since becoming FBI director in February, compared to former FBI Director Robert Mueller’s itinerary of 10 personal flights over a four-year period.
