FBI Director Kash Patel was summoned to the White House late Friday for actions that could well result in his dismissal from the Trump administration, according to a report from MS NOW.
“Patel abruptly cancelled a planned flight Friday to see his girlfriend in Chicago this weekend, after top administration officials frustrated with Patel summoned him to the White House, according to two people with knowledge of the change.”
“The precise reasons that Patel’s political bosses demanded he cancel his trip and report to the West Wing are unclear, but several people said top Trump deputies were disturbed by a range of actions by Patel. Some found it confounding that the FBI director was leaving town amid the recent revival of the war with Iran and alleged threats against the president’s life, according to a person familiar with efforts to help Patel rebuild trust with the White House. For this article, people spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss a sensitive internal matter.”
Two recent public relations disasters appear to have prompted Patel to lose support inside the administration.
The most recent flub by Patel was his response to MSNBC’s coverage of his lavish lifestyle, which is funded by taxpayers.
Soon after the report aired, Patel attacked the network via social media, writing, “Nah, my jet ski is gold plated….dumbass.
“Your job is to lie. Mine is to protect the American people, and business is good!”
White House Communications Director Steven Cheung denied the MS NOW report, writing, “Again. Completely false. There has been no frustration over his tweet this morning. I reposted his tweet. Other White House officials reposted his tweet.”
“Him calling MSNOW dumbasses is an accurate description of their shitty reporting.”
But perhaps the biggest threat to Patel’s remaining as FBI chief is Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA), who is reportedly outraged by the FBI chief’s lavish spending.
“On Thursday, MS NOW reported exclusively that Grassley had first asked Patel in a May letter about his use of the FBI jet and his decision to purchase luxury armored BMWs so he could travel more discreetly in the Washington, DC area. In a separate letter, Congressional Democrats said they had received information that Patel was demanding that FBI staff arrange special perks on his official trips, including a jet ski excursion and a helicopter tour. The FBI has disputed that, and said Patel had complied with federal rules pertaining to his travel.”
Among the top Trump officials who have the knives out for Patel are White House chief of staff Susie Wiles, who has the president’s ear and is known to be incredibly powerful inside the administration.
Could Patel be getting his walking papers soon? It certainly looks like it, and he has no one to blame but himself.
