{"id":2601921,"date":"2026-05-12T20:18:00","date_gmt":"2026-05-13T00:18:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/patel-vows-fbi-is-targeting-no-journalists-as-doj-clamps-down-on-classified-leaks\/"},"modified":"2026-05-12T20:22:21","modified_gmt":"2026-05-13T00:22:21","slug":"patel-vows-fbi-is-targeting-no-journalists-as-doj-clamps-down-on-classified-leaks","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/patel-vows-fbi-is-targeting-no-journalists-as-doj-clamps-down-on-classified-leaks\/","title":{"rendered":"Patel vows FBI &#8216;is targeting no journalists&#8217; as DOJ clamps down on classified leaks"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">28<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fpatel-vows-fbi-is-targeting-no-journalists-as-doj-clamps-down-on-classified-leaks%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2601921&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>FBI Director Kash Patel denied that the bureau has been investigating journalists over negative coverage of his leadership, addressing allegations raised during a Senate appropriations subcommittee hearing. Democrats said Patel may be using national-security leak investigations to target internal disclosures that do not involve classified details, pointing to recent Justice department warnings that reporters could face subpoenas in classified leak cases.<\/p>\n<p>The dispute comes after reporting by MS NOW alleged the FBI began internal leak probes following damaging stories about Patel, including claims (from sources cited by The Atlantic) that Patel ordered polygraphs for more than two dozen members of his security detail and staff to identify possible leakers. Patel repeated that no agents are targeting journalists, while Sen. Patty Murray pressed him on whether FBI resources were diverted from counterterrorism work to matters related to his critics\u2019 coverage.<\/p>\n<p>At the hearing, Patel also clashed with Sen. Chris Van Hollen over allegations of misconduct, including reports that he was frequently drunk or hungover and that staff had difficulty contacting him; Patel called the claims false and defended his track record and the bureau\u2019s internal leak review procedures. The exchanges unfolded alongside the administration\u2019s heightened focus on prosecuting classified-war-leak disclosures to the media,with Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche reiterating that witnesses-including reporters-could be subpoenaed.  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\">FBI<\/a> Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\">Kash Patel<\/a> denied Tuesday that the bureau is investigating journalists over negative reporting about his leadership, responding to mounting <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democrats\/\">Democratic<\/a> criticism as the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/trump-administration\/\">Trump administration<\/a> simultaneously ramps up a separate crackdown on classified war leaks to the media.<\/p>\n<p>The issue erupted during a Senate appropriations subcommittee <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.appropriations.senate.gov\/hearings\/a-review-of-the-presidents-fiscal-year-2027-budget-request-for-the-federal-bureau-of-investigation-the-drug-enforcement-administration-the-united-states-marshals-service-and-the-bureau-of-alcohol-tobacco-firearms-and-explosives\">hearing<\/a> just hours after acting Attorney General <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/todd-blanche\/\">Todd Blanche<\/a> warned that reporters could face subpoenas in investigations involving classified disclosures. Democrats accused Patel of blurring the line between <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >legitimate national security leak investigations<\/a> and efforts to root out embarrassing internal disclosures about his leadership that did not involve classified information.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4564564\/5th-circuit-grills-doj-legality-of-house-covid-proxy-voting-policy\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Fifth Circuit grills DOJ on legality of House\u2019s pandemic-era proxy voting policy<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4564781\/doj-paypal-scrap-dei-30-million-settlement\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ forces PayPal to scrap DEI business initiative in $30 million settlement<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4564608\/watchdog-sue-interior-department-freedom-250-fund-transparency\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Watchdog sues Interior Department over Freedom 250 funding transparency<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/PattyMurray?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@PattyMurray<\/a> (D-WA): &#8220;Can you commit\u2026that no agent hours have been pulled from other work like counterterrorism\u2026to work on matters related to negative press about you?&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>FBI Dir. Kash Patel: &#8220;This FBI is targeting and investigating no journalists.&#8221; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/AU77HsE3Qn\">pic.twitter.com\/AU77HsE3Qn<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\u2014 CSPAN (@cspan) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cspan\/status\/2054284575853949357?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 12, 2026<\/a><\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p> <script data-cfasync=\"false\" src=\"http:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/cdn-cgi\/scripts\/5c5dd728\/cloudflare-static\/email-decode.min.js\"><\/script><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis FBI is targeting and investigating no journalists,\u201d Patel told Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/patty-murray\/\">Patty Murray<\/a> (D-WA). \u201cThis FBI is targeting no journalists.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Patel\u2019s denial centered on May 7 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ms.now\/news\/kash-patel-ordered-polygraphs-of-more-than-two-dozen-members-of-his-team-sources-tell-ms-now\">reporting from MS NOW<\/a> alleging the FBI launched internal leak investigations after damaging stories about Patel\u2019s leadership, including an April 17 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.theatlantic.com\/politics\/2026\/04\/kash-patel-fbi-director-drinking-absences\/686839\/\">report<\/a> from the <em>Atlantic <\/em>citing more than two dozen sources who described alleged excessive drinking, absences, and erratic behavior by the FBI director.<\/p>\n<p>According to the latest reporting, Patel allegedly ordered polygraphs for more than two dozen current and former members of his security detail and staff to identify possible leakers. Murray confronted Patel directly over the matter during Tuesday\u2019s hearing.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThere are reports that you\u2019re using FBI resources to investigate journalists,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe have not done so,\u201d Patel replied.<\/p>\n<p>The confrontation unfolded against the backdrop of the <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/department-of-justice\/\">Justice Department<\/a>\u2018s increasingly aggressive posture toward classified leaks involving reporters and material that may relate to the war in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/iran\/\">Iran<\/a>.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">To the media asking about DOJ investigating the leaking of classified information:<\/p>\n<p>Prosecuting leakers who share our nation\u2019s secrets with reporters, in turn risking our national security and the lives of our soldiers, is a priority for this administration. Any witness, whether\u2026<\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Acting AG Todd Blanche (@DAGToddBlanche) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/DAGToddBlanche\/status\/2054197699486908639?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>\u201cProsecuting leakers who share our nation\u2019s secrets with reporters, in turn risking our national security and the lives of our soldiers, is a priority for this administration,\u201d Blanche posted Tuesday on X.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cAny witness, whether a reporter or otherwise, who has information about these criminals should not be surprised if they receive a subpoena about the illegal leaking of classified material,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n<p>Blanche\u2019s comments followed reporting from the <em>Wall Street Journal<\/em> that President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a> <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.wsj.com\/politics\/national-security\/trumps-complaints-about-iran-war-leaks-prompt-aggressive-doj-investigations-b5d31c13\">privately expressed frustration<\/a> over leaks involving U.S. military operations in Iran and urged stronger action against those responsible.<\/p>\n<p>Patel also sparred repeatedly with Democratic lawmakers over reports questioning his conduct and management style.<\/p>\n<p>Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"http:\/\/washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chris-van-hollen\">Chris Van Hollen<\/a> (D-MD) pressed Patel over allegations involving excessive drinking and claims that FBI personnel had difficulty reaching him.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChrisVanHollen?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@ChrisVanHollen<\/a> (D-MD) to Kash Patel: &#8220;We cannot look away from the credible, extremely troubling reports about your misconduct\u2026Reports of your being so drunk and hungover that your staff had to force entry into your home are extremely alarming.&#8221; <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9YXUNKqrwp\">pic.twitter.com\/9YXUNKqrwp<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 CSPAN (@cspan) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/cspan\/status\/2054269151607152650?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 12, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Patel called those accusations \u201cunequivocally, categorically false.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>At one point, Patel accused Van Hollen of \u201cslinging margaritas in El Salvador on the taxpayer dime,\u201d triggering a heated exchange between the two men. Patel was referring to Van Hollen\u2019s <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/policy\/immigration\/3780287\/van-hollen-meets-abrego-garcia-after-release-from-custody\/\">infamous visit<\/a> to the country to see <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/3899024\/six-year-old-immigration-court-error-haunts-kilmar-abrego-garcia-case\/\">Kilmar Abrego Garcia<\/a>, an illegal immigrant who was briefly deported to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/el-salvador\/\">El Salvador<\/a> before he was returned and charged with human smuggling last year.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Today, I spoke with Kilmar Abrego Garcia and his wife, Jennifer. In April, when I met with him in El Salvador, Trump said he would never set foot in the U.S. again.<\/p>\n<p>This case has never been about one man alone; if the govt can violate the constitutional rights of one, all our\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/YRSB1AHNMo\">pic.twitter.com\/YRSB1AHNMo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Senator Chris Van Hollen (@ChrisVanHollen) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/ChrisVanHollen\/status\/1999962407389544547?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">December 13, 2025<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p> <script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>    <\/p>\n<p>Patel pointed to what he described as a historic 20-point decline in the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/even-dcs-mayor-is-starting-to-think-dc-city-council-is-getting-too-lenient-on-crime\/\" title=\"Even DC&#039;s Mayor Is Starting to Think DC City Council Is Getting Too Lenient on Crime\">national murder rate<\/a>, along with 44,000 violent offender arrests and major increases in child exploitation and counterintelligence cases under his tenure. \u201cThe mission has never been more successful,\u201d Patel said.<\/p>\n<p>Patel also defended the FBI\u2019s use of internal leak reviews and polygraphs more broadly, describing them as long-standing bureau procedures rather than politically motivated retaliation.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNo one at this FBI is allowed to politicize or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/after-slandering-loudoun-parents-cnn-is-trapped-by-san-francisco-recalls\/\" title=\"After Slandering Loudoun Parents, CNN Is Trapped By San Francisco Recalls\">weaponize law enforcement<\/a>,\u201d Patel said. \u201cIf you do, you don\u2019t get to work there anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4564207\/watch-live-kash-patel-testifies-fbi-budget-request\/\">WATCH LIVE: KASH PATEL TESTIFIES ON FBI BUDGET REQUEST<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The bureau is <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.justice.gov\/jmd\/media\/1434246\/dl?inline\">requesting<\/a> more than $12.5 billion in appropriated funds, amounting to an 18% increase from fiscal 2026.<\/p>\n<p>Patel was flanked by three other witnesses, including Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives Director Robert Cekada, U.S. Marshals Service Director Gadyaces Serralta, and Drug Enforcement Administrator Terry Cole.<\/p>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kash Patel denies FBI targets journalists over negative coverage<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2601922,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/patel-senate-hearing-leaks.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651],"tags":[78898,7076,50645,50611,44205],"class_list":["post-2601921","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","tag-classified-leaks","tag-doj","tag-fbi-2","tag-national-security-2","tag-press-freedom"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/patel-senate-hearing-leaks.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601921","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2633"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2601921"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601921\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2601925,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2601921\/revisions\/2601925"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2601922"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2601921"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2601921"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2601921"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}