FBI Director Kash Patel is under fire for allegedly misusing a government jet for personal travel—a situation made worse by the fact that the trip occurred during a government shutdown that left many FBI employees without pay.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The controversy was ignited by Kyle Seraphin, a former FBI agent and outspoken critic, who posted a viral message on X (formerly Twitter) accusing Patel of using the bureau’s $60 million aircraft to attend his girlfriend’s event.
“Dear FBI Employees: I’m sorry the government ISN’T funded, so you won’t be getting a paycheck. Luckily, that doesn’t stop Real American Freestyle WRESTLING!” Seraphin wrote, mocking the director with a fabricated sign-off: “So I flew the FBI jet to State College, PA, hung out with my chick, and then flew to Nashville where she lives. — Ka$h.”
The Alleged Trip
The criticism centers on a flight that coincided with Patel’s attendance at a Real American Freestyle Wrestling event at Penn State University on October 25, where his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, was performing.
- Flight-tracking data for a government-owned jet—registered to the Department of Justice—showed a 40-minute flight from Virginia to Pennsylvania that day.
- Following the event, the same jet reportedly flew to Nashville, where Wilkins resides.
Seraphin called the trip “gross,” stating on his podcast, “We’re in the middle of a shutdown, and this guy’s jetting off to hang out with his girlfriend — on our dime.”
Context and Scrutiny
Patel and the FBI have not commented on these specific allegations.
Federal regulations require the FBI Director to use government planes for all travel to ensure secure communications. However, these rules also mandate that the Director must reimburse the government for personal use at the cost of a commercial ticket.
This latest incident adds to a pattern of scrutiny for Patel. Lawmakers have previously raised concerns over his use of bureau planes for trips, including multiple flights to Nashville earlier this year, which were officially categorized as field office visits.
