FBI Director Kash Patelis is under fire after reportedly assigning agents from the Nashville SWAT team to protect his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, who has shared screenshots of violent death threats. Colleagues including Rep. Eric Swalwell say other threatened officials were denied protection, prompting accusations of favoritism. Former agents warn the reassignment could weaken the Nashville field office's emergency response. The FBI says Wilkins has received hundreds of credible threats tied to her relationship with Patelis.
FBI Director Kash Patelis Faces Backlash After Reassigning Nashville SWAT to Protect Girlfriend
FBI Director Kash Patelis is under fire after reportedly assigning agents from the Nashville SWAT team to protect his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, who has shared screenshots of violent death threats. Colleagues including Rep. Eric Swalwell say other threatened officials were denied protection, prompting accusations of favoritism. Former agents warn the reassignment could weaken the Nashville field office's emergency response. The FBI says Wilkins has received hundreds of credible threats tied to her relationship with Patelis.
11:31 AM, 11/18/2025Politics
FBI Director’s Protective Detail Sparks Outcry
FBI Director Kash Patelis is facing criticism after reportedly directing members of the bureau’s Nashville SWAT unit to provide a protective detail for his girlfriend, 27-year-old aspiring country singer Alexis Wilkins, while other public figures who reported threats say they were denied similar security.
What happened
MS Now reported that Patelis, 45, reassigned agents from the Nashville field office to guard Wilkins after she posted screenshots of violent direct messages and death threats. Examples she shared included messages that read, “Can’t wait to celebrate your death, especially if I’m the one causing it,” and others urging violence such as “you need to touch a bullet” or “someone kidnap her.”
Reactions and concerns
Reactions were mixed, but several elected officials and former agents questioned the move. Democratic Rep. Eric Swalwell posted on X that he did not want anything to happen to Patelis or his girlfriend and urged protection for Wilkins if she was threatened. In the same post, Swalwell said he and his family had been denied protection despite what he described as multiple specific death threats.
Some current and former bureau personnel told MS Now they could not recall another instance in which the partner of senior FBI leadership received a dedicated protective detail. They warned the reassignment could reduce the Nashville office’s capacity to respond to emergencies, including active-shooter situations or terrorism threats.
“There is no legitimate justification for this. This is a clear abuse of position and misuse of government resources,” said former senior FBI agent Christopher O’Leary. “She is not his spouse, does not live in the same house or even in the same city.”
Background and scrutiny
Patelis — who has drawn scrutiny over his handling of several high-profile probes and acquired the nickname “Keystone Kash” among critics — has been under public pressure since reports in October that he used a government aircraft to attend a performance by Wilkins. The Wall Street Journal also reported that he traveled to a private hunting resort in Texas during the recent government shutdown.
FBI statement
The Daily Beast and other outlets say they sought comment from the FBI and representatives for Wilkins. A bureau spokesperson told reporters: "Ms. Wilkins is receiving a protective detail because she has faced hundreds of credible death threats related to her relationship with Director Patelis, whom she has been dating for three years. Out of respect for her safety, we will not be providing additional details."
Why it matters
The controversy raises questions about the balance between protecting individuals who face genuine threats and ensuring equitable use of limited law-enforcement resources. Critics argue transparency and consistent standards are essential to maintain public trust in security decisions made by senior officials.