The FBI has rejected suggestions that Director Kash Patel acted improperly by snorkeling near a sacred Pearl Harbor shipwreck, after The Associated Press reported criticism of the trip by a marine veteran who said it was like a ‘bachelor party.’
The AP obtained government emails which revealed that, after visiting a field office in Hawaii in August, Patel went on what was described by government officials as a “VIP snorkel” expedition around the sunken USS Arizona, and the veteran who watches over the hallowed site said it was inappropriate.
Ben Williamson, the assistant director for public affairs at the FBI, criticized the AP’s characterization of the event as “stupid,” describing it as a routine interagency engagement and “not a party,” in a post on X.
Newsweek has contacted the AP for comment via contact form on their website.
Why It Matters
The revelation comes amid ongoing criticisms that the FBI director’s activities and use of government resources have at times blurred the line between professional and leisure activities. This includes controversy sparked in February after videos surfaced of Patel drinking and celebrating in the locker room with members of the U.S. men’s hockey team following their gold medal win at the Winter Olympics in Milan.
He has also faced allegations of unprofessional behavior including excessive drinking, which were detailed in an article in The Atlantic. Patel has denied the allegations and sued the outlet in April over its reporting.
What To Know
The AP reported that Patel went on a “VIP snorkel” expedition around the USS Arizona, a sunken battleship that is the resting place of more than 900 sailors and Marines at Pearl Harbor, where Japan carried out a devastating aerial attack on the U.S. on December 7, 1941, prompting America’s entry into the Second World War.”
Access to the waters surrounding the wreck is highly restricted. The outlet said that emails revealed that the excursion was coordinated by the military.
The report noted that while Patel’s visit to Hawaii and the Honolulu field office was public knowledge, details of his snorkeling at the site were previously undisclosed.
The AP said in the article: “The swim, revealed in government emails obtained by The Associated Press, comes to light amid criticism of Patel’s use of the FBI plane and his global travel, which have blurred professional responsibilities with leisure activities.”
Hack Albertson, a Marine veteran trained to dive the wreck annually to monitor its condition, told the outlet that it was inappropriate for Patel and other political figures to snorkel at the memorial.
“It’s like having a bachelor party at a church. It’s hallowed ground,” he said. “It needs to be treated with the solemnity it deserves.”
Stacey Young, the founder of advocacy group Justice Connection that supports Department of Justice employees, told the AP about the snorkeling expedition: “It fits a pattern of Director Patel getting tangled up in unseemly distractions—this time at a site commemorating the second deadliest attack in U.S. history—instead of staying laser-focused on keeping Americans safe.”
In a post on X, FBI spokesperson Williamson rejected characterization of Patel’s visit as inappropriate.
“The AP is attempting to spin an invitation from the Commanding General of Indo Pacom to a military base as a party or vacation, which is so stupid,” he wrote.
“The DOW routinely does these engagements with interagency partners – to include this one – and when he was Chief of staff for DoD in Trump 1, Patel offered the same event for many partners that came to visit. It’s a historical tour to honor heroes who died on the USS Arizona – not a party.”
The FBI told the AP that Patel was hosted by top regional commanders at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam “as they commonly do with U.S. government officials on official travel” and that the trip was “part of the Director’s public national security engagements.”
The Navy told the outlet that Patel’s snorkeling outing was “not an anomaly” but declined to provide information about other such excursions.
What Happens Next
While the FBI has publicly defended Patel’s activities in Hawaii, the episode is likely to fuel further debate over his travel and public conduct as director of the bureau.
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