{"id":2602837,"date":"2026-05-14T16:46:02","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:46:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/patel-went-on-vip-snorkel-at-pearl-harbor-memorial-emails-show\/"},"modified":"2026-05-14T16:48:05","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T20:48:05","slug":"patel-went-on-vip-snorkel-at-pearl-harbor-memorial-emails-show","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/patel-went-on-vip-snorkel-at-pearl-harbor-memorial-emails-show\/","title":{"rendered":"Patel went on &#8216;VIP snorkel&#8217; at Pearl Harbor memorial, emails show"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/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-went-on-vip-snorkel-at-pearl-harbor-memorial-emails-show%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=2602837&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 reportedly went on a \u201cVIP snorkel\u201d trip around the USS *Arizona* Memorial at Pearl Harbor during a Hawaii visit last summer, based on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/member-of-iranian-influence-network-visited-biden-white-house-five-times\/\" title=\"Iranian Influence Network Member Visited Biden White House Five Times\">government emails reviewed<\/a> by the Associated Press. The snorkeling occurred in August 2025 after Patel returned to Hawaii from official meetings in Australia adn New Zealand.<\/p>\n<p>Military officials coordinated the excursion,which took place near the sunken battleship that serves as the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/usa-today-columnist-bury-the-500000-covid-19-dead-at-mar-a-lago\/\" title=\"USA Today Columnist: \u2018Bury The 500,000 COVID-19 Dead At Mar-a-Lago\u2019\">final resting place<\/a> for more than 900 people killed in the 1941 attack. Even though the FBI publicly emphasized that Patel visited its Honolulu field office and met with <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >local law enforcement<\/a>, it did not mention the snorkeling session or that he stayed in Hawaii for an additional two days.<\/p>\n<p>Flight-tracking data reviewed by the Associated Press indicated Patel\u2019s Gulfstream aircraft remained in Hawaii for two nights before heading to Las Vegas. The FBI disputes the AP\u2019s characterization, with a spokesman arguing it was a Department of Defense engagement with interagency partners rather than a vacation or party.<\/p>\n<p>Snorkeling and diving are generally not allowed at the USS *Arizona* Memorial, except for limited groups such as marine archaeologists, maintenance personnel, and certain government officials. Former government divers told the AP that dignitaries have occasionally taken part in similar rare excursions dating back at least to the Obama administration.<\/p>\n<p>The trip adds to ongoing controversy around Patel\u2019s travel habits, including earlier criticism and questions about his attendance at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.  <\/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>FBI Director <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/kash-patel\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"11691\">Kash Patel<\/a> went on a \u201cVIP snorkel\u201d excursion at the USS <em>Arizona<\/em> Memorial at <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/pearl-harbor\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"2846\">Pearl Harbor<\/a> during a Hawaii trip last summer, according to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fbi-kash-patel-snorkel-hawaii-pearl-harbor-192a81cde7a5879aab747bc0ba4b78b9\">government emails<\/a> obtained by the <em>Associated Press<\/em>.<\/p>\n<p>The outing took place in August 2025, after Patel returned to <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hawaii\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"1259\">Hawaii<\/a> from official visits to Australia and New Zealand, during which he met with foreign law enforcement and intelligence officials. <\/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 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over JFK and MKUltra files<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/world\/4568158\/judge-override-us-sanction-un-official-gaza-war-crime-charge\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Judge overrides US sanctions on UN official for backing Israel war crime charges<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>Military officials coordinated the snorkeling session, described in emails as \u201cVIP snorkel,\u201d around the USS <em>Arizona<\/em>, the sunken battleship that serves as the final resting place for more than 900 sailors and Marines killed during Japan\u2019s attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941. <\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>The <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/fbi\/\" type=\"post_tag\" id=\"516\">FBI<\/a> publicly highlighted Patel\u2019s stop in Hawaii to visit the bureau\u2019s Honolulu field office and meet with local law enforcement, but did not disclose the snorkeling session or his return to the island for an additional two-day stay. <\/p>\n<p>Flight-tracking data reviewed by the <em>Associated Press <\/em>showed the Gulfstream G550 aircraft\u00a0commonly used by the FBI director remained in Hawaii for two nights before traveling to Las Vegas. <\/p>\n<p>FBI spokesman Ben Williamson posted a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/_williamsonben\/status\/2055011980386435127\">statement on X<\/a> disputing the <em>Associated Press\u2019s<\/em> report, saying that the snorkeling adventure was part of a Department of War engagement with interagency partners.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe 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,\u201d Williamson said. \u201cThe DoW routinely does these engagements with interagency partners \u2013 to include this one \u2013 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\u2019s a historical tour to honor heroes who died on the USS Arizona \u2013 not a party.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>The USS <em>Arizona<\/em> Memorial is generally off-limits to swimmers and divers, with exceptions typically made for marine archaeologists, maintenance crews, and certain government officials connected to the site.<\/p>\n<p>According to former government divers familiar with operations at Pearl Harbor who spoke to the <em>Associated Press<\/em> anonymously, dignitaries, including defense secretaries and military leaders, have occasionally participated in similar excursions dating back at least to the Obama administration, though such access is rare. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4565665\/patel-van-hollen-7000-bar-tab\/\"><strong>PATEL POSTS VAN HOLLEN CAMPAIGN\u2019S $7,000 BAR TAB AFTER BARBED SENATE TESTIMONY<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Hawaii trip is the latest controversy surrounding the FBI director, who has faced criticism for his use of the bureau plane and global travel.<\/p>\n<p>Earlier this year, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4467072\/patel-defends-olympics-trip-partying-with-hockey-team\/\">questions emerged over<\/a> his attendance at the Winter Olympics in Milan after video surfaced of him celebrating with members of the U.S. men\u2019s hockey team following their gold medal victory. Patel had said the trip was related to a meeting with Italian authorities.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>FBI\u2019s Kash Patel took a \u201cVIP snorkel\u201d at Pearl Harbor, per emails from AP<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4130,"featured_media":2602838,"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\/AP26132756510625.jpg?w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[538],"tags":[79691,5644,51054,53467,79690],"class_list":["post-2602837","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-washington-examiner","tag-leaked-emails-2","tag-memorial","tag-patel-2","tag-pearl-harbor","tag-vip-snorkel"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/AP26132756510625.jpg?w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602837","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\/4130"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2602837"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602837\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2602841,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2602837\/revisions\/2602841"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2602838"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2602837"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2602837"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2602837"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}