FBI Director Kash Patel Faces Criticism for Using Government Jet to Attend Girlfriend's Wrestling Performance Amid Shutdown

FBI Director Kash Patel has come under scrutiny for using a government aircraft to attend a wrestling event where his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, performed, with flight logs showing the jet flying from Virginia to Pennsylvania and then to Nashville, where Wilkins lives. While FBI policy mandates the director use official planes for security reasons, personal use requires reimbursement at commercial rates, though it remains unclear if Patel repaid for this trip. Critics, including former FBI agents and lawmakers, have accused Patel of overusing government jets for personal purposes, contrasting his past criticism of former FBI Director Christopher Wray for similar behavior. Patel defended his travel by stating Congressional mandates require him to use government planes for all travel. The optics of the trip, especially amid a government shutdown, have drawn harsh criticism from whistleblowers and political commentators who view it as elitist and inappropriate. Patel's lifestyle and alleged neglect of daily duties have also been questioned, raising concerns about his fitness for the role.