The top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, accused FBI Director Kash Patel of allowing personal travel and management decisions to interfere with critical investigations, citing whistleblower information, according to a letter obtained by The Hill.
In the letter addressed to Patel, Durbin described the director’s use of FBI-operated aircraft for what he called “irresponsible joyriding” as having compromised time-sensitive operations. “The Director’s personal leisure activities and travel bucket list should not dictate work travel, nor should it have a material impact on the Bureau’s time-sensitive operations and investigations,” Durbin wrote.
The Illinois senator quoted a whistleblower disclosure alleging Patel signaled his priorities early in his tenure during a meeting with field offices last year: “If you have golf, hockey, fishing, or hunting and beautiful sights, you’re going to see a lot of me.” Durbin claimed this reflected a pattern where Patel’s personal preferences influenced the allocation of FBI aviation resources, including pilots and aircraft.
Durbin cited two specific high-profile cases allegedly affected:
Charlie Kirk Shooting in Utah: Following the murder of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, the FBI’s shooting reconstruction team was requested to deploy to assist local authorities. However, Durbin alleged the team’s arrival was delayed by at least one day due to pilot and aircraft shortages caused by prior flights transporting Patel. Pilots had reached their maximum allowable flight hours under Federal Aviation Administration rest requirements.
Brown University Shooting: In another incident involving a shooting at Brown University, Durbin claimed FBI agents’ delayed response was linked to Patel’s decisions. He alleged Patel opted to place the FBI Hostage Rescue Team on standby rather than mobilizing nearby SWAT units in New York and Boston, contributing to slower federal involvement.
Durbin said the whistleblower information indicated these choices had a “material impact” on major criminal cases, arguing that FBI resources should prioritize investigative needs over personal travel.
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson swiftly rejected the allegations in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “There would not be a situation where the FBI delayed or couldn’t send resources because of Director travel, especially in this case,” Williamson wrote regarding the Brown University incident. He added that the initial response to the shooting was led by state and local authorities, not the FBI.
The White House and Justice Department did not immediately comment on Durbin’s letter. Patel, who was confirmed as FBI Director in late 2025 following a contentious Senate process, has faced ongoing scrutiny from Democrats over his management style, loyalty to the president, and alleged politicization of the bureau.
The accusations come amid heightened partisan tensions in Washington, with Republicans controlling both chambers of Congress following the 2024 elections and Democrats seeking to highlight perceived abuses of power within the Trump administration’s law enforcement agencies.
No formal investigation or oversight hearing has been announced in response to Durbin’s letter, but the senator’s position on the Judiciary Committee gives him significant leverage to pursue further inquiries, subpoenas, or public hearings if warranted.
The claims remain unverified beyond the whistleblower disclosures cited by Durbin, and the FBI has not acknowledged any operational delays tied to the director’s travel.
