Gov. Gavin Newsom accused FBI Director Kash Patel of “waste, fraud and abuse” for using an FBI aircraft to visit his girlfriend and attend entertainment events, after posting a clip of Patel speaking about his travel. Patel defended the trips on Katie Miller’s podcast, saying prior directors took vacations and that he reimburses an equivalent commercial fare while routing flights saves taxpayers $4,000–$7,000 per trip. Reporting also alleges Patel made multiple trips to Nashville and Las Vegas and assigned FBI agents to provide personal security for Alexis Wilkins, which sources called unprecedented.
Newsom Accuses FBI Director Kash Patel Of 'Waste, Fraud And Abuse' Over Government-Jet 'Date Nights'
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California Gov. Gavin Newsom publicly accused FBI Director Kash Patel of "waste, fraud and abuse" after sharing a clip of Patel discussing his use of an FBI aircraft to visit his girlfriend and attend entertainment events.
Governor's Claim
Newsom’s press office posted the clip on X, calling attention to Patel’s comments and writing in all caps, “FRAUD ALERT: FBI Director Kash Patel admits he uses his taxpayer-funded private jet to watch concerts and hang out with his girlfriend. WASTE, FRAUD, ABUSE!”
Newsom joined a long list of critics of Patel's behavior. / X/GovPressOffice
What Patel Says
On Katie Miller’s podcast, Patel rejected criticism about his travel, saying previous FBI directors also took vacations and personal trips. “No one told them not to go on vacation,” he said. Patel added, “If I was actually abusing it, I would go see every one of her shows. I think I get to, like, 15 percent.”
Patel: “We took that on and said, ‘Well, let’s figure this out,’ because we don’t want to just run around. And she’s totally understanding. She’s like, ‘If you can’t see me this weekend, that’s OK.’”
Policy And Costs
Executive-branch rules cited in reporting allow senior officials to use government aircraft for personal travel if they reimburse certain costs. Under the policy described in reports, Patel pays the equivalent of a commercial airfare while taxpayers cover the remaining operating cost. Patel has defended his routing of flights through government airfields rather than commercial airports, saying it saves taxpayers roughly $4,000–$7,000 per trip.
Patel with girlfriend Alexis Wilkins in the Oval Office. Patel has come under fire for repeatedly using a $60 million government jet to visit Wilkins in Nashville and to travel to UFC matches, hockey games, and hunting trips. / Instagram
Reported Travel And Other Allegations
Reporting says Patel, 45, has made multiple trips to Nashville, Tennessee, to see aspiring country singer Alexis Wilkins, 27, and has also flown to Las Vegas—where he owns a home—on numerous occasions. Just the News reported at least six trips to Nashville and ten to Las Vegas.
Separately, MS NOW reported in November that Patel assigned a group of FBI agents to provide personal security for Wilkins. Two people familiar with the arrangement told the outlet the detail was unprecedented and could have diverted agents from work in the Nashville area. That reporting also alleged Patel ordered the security detail to drive a reportedly intoxicated friend of Wilkins home on at least two occasions.
Response
The FBI did not immediately respond to a request for comment forwarded to the Daily Beast, according to reporting. The allegations and the governor’s public statements have prompted renewed scrutiny over how senior officials use government resources for personal travel and security.
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