FBI director Kash Patel is drawing criticism from across the ideological spectrum for his habit of flying SWAT teams around America to protect himself and his girlfriend, aspiring country singer Alexis Wilkins.
Concerns raised by DC ethics watchdogs, reporters, and conservative podcasters include the cost to taxpayers of the private flights; abuses of power ranging from the small (should girlfriends get spousal benefits?), to the large (does the FBI director even have the authority to hire out jets for private trips?); as well as the effectiveness of relying on adrenaline-junkie SWAT teams for jobs that demand patience, blending in, and other skills that are pretty much the opposite of their training.
That last point turns out to be a relevant one. As the New York Times reports, the issue grew after Wilkins performed “The Star-Spangled Banner” at the National Rifle Association’s annual Atlanta conference in the spring. The assembled SWAT team had flown in on little notice and were given even fewer directions. They left the party early, and it kind of seems like they were just bored. This led Patel to a meltdown, reportedly about safety, communication, and have you guys even protected someone before? (Mostly, it seems, they hadn’t.)
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Patel, 45, and Wilkins, 27, have been dating for three years. Before he became the head of the FBI, Patel raised his profile by criticizing the jet usage of former director Christopher Wray. “Maybe we ground that plane,” Patel once said. “Fifteen thousand dollars every time it takes off. Just a thought.”
As a singer, Wilkins is best known for pandering nostalgia like “Old Fashioned Christmas” and “Country Back,” and these days, you can find her singing the national anthem for sporting events that might not actually be sports (though Freestyle Wrestling, founded by Hulk Hogan, sounds pretty cool).
So far this year Patel has used FBI resources for 12 personal trips, including to an aptly named private hunting club, the Boondoggle Ranch. That’s more private trips than Robert Mueller (10) put together in any four years on the job.