FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly ordered his girlfriend’s security detail to escort one of her allegedly drunk friends home after a night of partying.
Sources told MS Now that Patel, 45, ordered security guards assigned to his country singer girlfriend Alexis Wilkins, 27, to drive Wilkins’ friends home on at least two occasions.
When agents refused Wilkins’ request to drive her friend home, Patel ordered them to do as she asked, people familiar with the matter said. At one point, they added, Patel even called Wilkins’ squad leader and yelled at him to do what Wilkins asked.
Wilkins, who works part-time in Nashville, received a separate security detail that included members of the local SWAT team.
Patel hired an FBI SWAT team to serve as personal security for his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins. /Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
The spouse of a former FBI director is occasionally protected when traveling with her partner.
Former FBI agent Christopher O’Leary called the orders “outrageous” and “demonstrate a complete lack of judgment and integrity on the part of Kash Patel.” “FBI agents serve the public and are sworn to protect and defend the Constitution. This is clearly far from that,” he added.
The incidents have reportedly become the subject of gossip within the bureau, as agents worry about the diversion of resources and its impact on leadership priorities. Patel and Deputy Director Dan Bongino were also criticized in a November report by more than 20 current and former FBI personnel who called the FBI under their supervision “leaderless.” Patel was described as “insecure”, prone to temper tantrums and lacking the professionalism required for his position.
Experts say agents trained in high-risk operations ranging from counterterrorism to hostage rescue are being withdrawn from their primary missions, acting as chauffeurs for private citizens.
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson flatly denied the reports, saying “this is made up and didn’t happen.” In a post on X, Williamson further wrote that the story was “bullshit.”
“No confirmation or record could be found,” he said.
“Ken’s three sources: the voices in his head,” Wilkins tweeted in response to MS Now justice and intelligence reporter Ken Dilanian, one of the reporters who wrote the story. “Nice try, Ken. Let’s try something slightly believable next time instead of some lame and provably wrong party girl trope.”
The claims are consistent with a series of internal complaints about mismanagement by the leadership of Patel and Bongino, including meeting unnecessary demands while leaving critical missions understaffed.
Patel’s stance is being closely watched. /Michael Sciaglo/Michael Sciaglo/Getty Images
Patel was criticized for traveling on a taxpayer-funded jet to visit his girlfriend. On October 25, he flew on a $60 million private jet to watch Wilkins perform at a Real American Freestyle Wrestling event in Pennsylvania, then flew to Wilkins’ hometown of Nashville later that day.
Fortress later revealed that Patel’s visits to Nashville date back to February, when he made his first trip three days after being sworn in as FBI director. His plane then made two round-trip flights on March 14 and 16 from Manassas Regional Airport near Washington to Nashville.
On March 21, the plane returned to Nashville for the fourth time in a month. The private jet reportedly flew to Florida on Friday, October 31, where President Donald Trump, 79, held a the great gatsby——Themed Halloween party at Mar-a-Lago. The next day, Patel left Florida and headed again to Nashville, where he stayed until November 3, which coincided with his girlfriend’s 27th birthday.
It’s unclear how many of Patel’s trips to Nashville were for personal or work reasons, or how, if at all, the director would be reimbursed for the expenses.
