Highlights:
- Kash Patel allegedly used a government-registered jet to attend a wrestling event at Penn State.
- The flight records show the plane traveled from Virginia to Pennsylvania and then to Nashville.
- Patel’s girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, performed at the event as a singer.
- Patel has defended his use of government aircraft, citing security and communication requirements.
- Critics recall Patel once condemned former FBI Director Christopher Wray for similar conduct.
FBI director Kash Patel is facing criticism after a report suggested he used a government-registered jet to travel to Pennsylvania to watch his girlfriend, country music singer Alexis Wilkins, perform at a wrestling event.
Flight records indicate that a jet linked to the Department of Justice flew from Manassas Regional Airport in Virginia to State College Regional Airport in Pennsylvania on Saturday (25), the same day Patel and Wilkins attended the Real American Freestyle wrestling event at Penn State University.
The report, first cited by The Independent, noted that the flight lasted around 40 minutes before the jet departed two and a half hours later for Nashville, Tennessee, where Wilkins resides. Photos posted by Wilkins on social media confirmed that Patel was present at the event. However, the passenger list for the flight was not publicly released.
The incident has reignited debate about Patel’s use of government jets for personal travel. Lawmakers and critics have accused him of overusing taxpayer-funded aircraft to attend sporting events and visit his partner. Patel, however, has defended his travel practices, claiming he is required by law to use government aircraft due to the need for secure communications and operational readiness at all times.
“As FBI Director, I am mandated by Congress to use a government jet for all travel,” Patel reportedly told lawmakers. Directors are permitted to use official aircraft for personal purposes but must reimburse the government at the equivalent cost of a commercial ticket.
Ironically, Patel himself criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray in 2023 for similar behavior, accusing Wray of “using taxpayer-funded private jets to hop around the country.” The resurfaced remarks have amplified public scrutiny of Patel’s recent trips.
Earlier this year, The New York Times reported that Patel made multiple round-trips to Nashville, citing official visits to FBI field offices while his girlfriend was performing nearby. However, there is no public record suggesting Patel conducted any official business during his visit to Penn State, where Wilkins performed at the Real American Freestyle event — an unscripted wrestling promotion co-founded by late wrestling icon Hulk Hogan.
The FBI has yet to issue an official statement on Patel’s recent travel, leaving questions about ethics and accountability within the agency hanging in the air.
