Summary: Allegations from current and former FBI agents portray Director Kash Patel as seeking media attention, including requests for advance notice of major arrests so he can attend scenes. A leaked dossier claims he refused to leave a jet in Provo until provided a size-medium FBI windbreaker, a story Patel has called "100 percent false." Agents also criticize his social-media posts and lifestyle, and some reportedly nickname him the "Make-a-Wish director." These reports are based on anonymous sources and remain disputed.
FBI Agents Allege Director Kash Patel Seeks Public Spotlight; Dossier Details Windbreaker Incident
An FBI agent claimed that Kash Patel asks for prior notice of newsworthy arrests so that he can be on the scene. / Daniel Heuer/AFP via Getty Images
Sources inside the FBI say Director Kash Patel has prioritized public visibility since taking the bureau's top job, according to reporting and a leaked dossier compiled by current and former agents.
Allegations From Agents
Multiple sources told Axios that Patel — who had no prior FBI experience before his appointment — requests advance notice of "noteworthy arrests" so he can attend scenes and maximize media coverage. Those same sources said agents are sometimes instructed to avoid direct engagement with him if he does appear at an operation.
One source claimed that during his time working under Patel, his habit of wearing FBI windbreakers was unpopular with agents. / Michael Ciaglo/Getty Images
Windbreaker Incident
The leaked dossier alleges that Patel refused to disembark a private jet in Provo, Utah, during the manhunt that followed the assassination of Charlie Kirk until he was given a size-medium FBI windbreaker. The report says he objected to the number of patches on the sleeve and remained on the plane until SWAT members reportedly removed patches from their uniforms and brought them to him.
Patel's Response: Patel called the account "100 percent false" in an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, saying he was "honored" to be offered the jacket and that he accepted and wore the unit-specific badge with pride.
Other Complaints
Agents told Axios they are also frustrated by Patel's frequent social-media posts — including an announcement about an arrest in the Charlie Kirk case before authorities had captured a suspect — and by what some describe as attention-seeking behavior. Reports noting his use of private jets, a new fleet of luxury vehicles, and public outings with his musician girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins, have reinforced those perceptions for some staff.
Patel has also reportedly upset the balance with his-sometimes incorrect-social media coverage of investigations and slew of television appearances. / Chip Somodevilla / Getty Images
Former FBI senior executive Christopher O'Leary has said that some agents mockingly refer to Patel as the "Make-a-Wish director," a nickname intended to criticize what they view as his use of the director's role to pursue personal visibility.
Context and Cautions
These accounts are based on anonymous sources and a leaked dossier; they reflect internal criticism and allegations rather than verified facts. Patel has publicly disputed the windbreaker narrative and defended his conduct. The situation highlights internal tensions over leadership style and the relationship between the bureau's operational priorities and public messaging.
