FBI Director Kash Patel is no stranger to controversy, but the past few weeks have seen the embattled chief at the center of a particularly stormy period for the nation’s top law enforcement agency. As November 2025 drew to a close, Patel faced mounting criticism not only for his personal conduct—earning him a less-than-flattering nickname among his own agents—but also for his dogged pursuit of former FBI Director James Comey, even after a federal judge tossed out the government’s case against Comey.
It’s a story that reads almost like political theater, with high-profile players, sharp accusations, and a cast of government officials trading barbs in public and private. The drama has unfolded across cable news, social media, and the nation’s front pages, leaving many Americans wondering: just what is going on at the FBI?
The first act of this saga began with a series of revelations about Patel’s use of government resources for what critics describe as personal pleasure trips. According to The Wall Street Journal, Patel reportedly commandeered a government jet—specifically, a Boeing 757 typically reserved for “render safe” nuclear missions—to attend a sporting event where the Ohio Valley team scored a winning goal. But that was just the beginning. Former FBI special agent Christopher O’Leary, speaking on MS NOW’s “The Weekend” show, laid out a laundry list of questionable excursions: “He goes to UFC fights, he goes to the Boondoggle Ranch during a government shutdown for four days. He goes to a golfing outing in Scotland with his buddies on the G5 jet.”
O’Leary didn’t mince words about his former boss’s qualifications, saying, “Kash Patel cannot be described as anything but a dumpster fire as the director of the FBI.” O’Leary also revealed an inside joke circulating among FBI staff: Patel, he claimed, is known as the “Make-a-Wish Director,” a reference to the charity that grants special experiences to critically ill children. The implication? That Patel was using his position to indulge personal whims, all on the taxpayer’s dime.
These allegations, which surfaced in early November, quickly gathered steam. The scrutiny intensified after reports that Patel had used government aircraft and assigned security details to his girlfriend, country musician Alexis Wilkins, during trips to a luxury resort in Texas and to Tennessee. For many, the optics were damning—especially during a period when the agency faced budget constraints and a government shutdown.
Yet, despite the swirling rumors that Patel’s days were numbered, the White House pushed back hard. MS NOW reported that co-deputy FBI Director Andrew Bailey was being considered as Patel’s replacement, but White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt dismissed the speculation outright. Taking to social media, Leavitt wrote, “This story is completely made up.” She went a step further, sharing a photo of President Trump and Patel smiling and giving a thumbs up in the Oval Office, adding, “I read the headline to the President and he laughed. He said: ‘What? That’s totally false. Come on Kash, let’s take a picture to show them you’re doing a great job!’”
But the turbulence at the FBI didn’t stop with questions about Patel’s travel habits. In a separate but equally high-profile controversy, Patel has remained at the forefront of the Trump administration’s efforts to prosecute former FBI Director James Comey. Comey, a perennial target for Trump and his supporters since his firing in 2017, was charged with making false statements and obstructing Congress—allegations tied to his role in the FBI’s handling of politically sensitive investigations, including the 2016 Russia inquiry.
However, in a dramatic turn, U.S. District Judge Cameron McGowan Currie dismissed the case against Comey. The reason? Interim U.S. Attorney Lindsey Halligan, who signed Comey’s indictment, had been appointed just two days earlier and lacked any prosecutorial experience, rendering her actions legally invalid. The ruling was a blow to the administration’s legal offensive, but it didn’t end the matter.
In an interview with Epoch Times senior editor Jan Jekielek, Patel made it clear that the government isn’t backing down. “The judicial process can make whatever determination it wants, but we at the FBI and our partners at the DOJ have numerous options to proceed, and we’re executing on all those options,” Patel said in the exclusive interview posted on X (formerly Twitter). “So we’re not done.” He hinted that further actions could be expected soon, urging the public to “stay tuned for right after Thanksgiving, and you’ll see multiple responses, in my opinion.”
Comey, for his part, responded to the dismissal with a mixture of relief and criticism. In a video statement, he said, “I am grateful that the court ended the case against me, which was a prosecution based on malevolence and incompetence and a reflection of what the Justice Department has become under Donald Trump, which is heartbreaking.”
Attorney General Pam Bondi, however, signaled that the administration would appeal the ruling and continue to pursue Comey and others. “We’ll be taking all available legal action, including an immediate appeal to hold Letitia James and James Comey accountable for their unlawful conduct,” Bondi said. “I’m not worried about someone who has been charged with a very serious crime. His [Comey’s] alleged actions are a betrayal of public trust.”
For many observers, the back-and-forth over Comey’s prosecution is emblematic of the broader political climate. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, asked about the president’s pursuit of Comey, framed it as a matter of principle: “I wouldn’t say he’s ‘going after’ them. I think the president is more determined than ever to see accountability in this country. And to correct the wrongs of the weaponization of our justice system that we saw under the previous administration and Joe Biden.”
Throughout this period, Patel has also sought to highlight other aspects of the FBI’s work, discussing efforts to change the agency’s culture, its cooperation with the Trump administration on issues like the China-fentanyl deal, and ongoing counterespionage operations. But these talking points have largely been drowned out by the controversies swirling around his leadership and the relentless pursuit of Comey.
As the holiday season approaches, all eyes remain on the FBI’s next moves—both in terms of Patel’s future at the helm and the administration’s legal strategy against former officials. For now, the bureau finds itself at the center of a political maelstrom, with its director battling criticism from within and without, and the nation watching closely to see what comes next.
