Patel's Government Jet Trip Prompts Lawsuit, Ouster

Public flight logs show FBI Director Kash Patel used a government jet reported to be worth about $60 million to fly to Penn State on Oct. 25 to watch his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, perform; the plane later flew to Nashville. Patel posted a lengthy rebuttal on X calling the coverage “disgustingly baseless,” defending Wilkins and saying personal attacks would not distract the FBI from its mission. Bloomberg and other outlets reported Patel grew enraged after the reporting and the bureau subsequently forced out Steven Palmer, a 27‑year veteran who oversaw the FBI’s aviation unit and critical‑incident response. The FBI said the travel “followed all required regulations,” noting directors are required to use government aircraft for secure travel and that personal trips are to be reimbursed. Ex‑agent Kyle Seraphin amplified claims that Wilkins was a spy, prompting Wilkins to sue him for defamation, and commentators across the political spectrum criticized Patel’s public defense.