{"id":2627375,"date":"2026-07-09T15:16:02","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:16:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-investigate-kash-patel-perks-after-grassley-questioned-fbi-jet-use-bmws\/"},"modified":"2026-07-09T15:18:37","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T19:18:37","slug":"dems-investigate-kash-patel-perks-after-grassley-questioned-fbi-jet-use-bmws","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/dems-investigate-kash-patel-perks-after-grassley-questioned-fbi-jet-use-bmws\/","title":{"rendered":"Dems investigate Kash Patel &#8216;perks&#8217; after Grassley questioned FBI jet use, BMWs"},"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\">24<\/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%2Fdems-investigate-kash-patel-perks-after-grassley-questioned-fbi-jet-use-bmws%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=2627375&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>Congressional Democrats are pressing FBI Director Kash Patel for details regarding his use of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/immigrant-business-owner-who-fled-communism-jailed-for-staying-open-supporters-back-her-with-gofundme\/\" title=\"Immigrant Business Owner Who Fled Communism Jailed For Staying Open, Supporters Back Her With GoFundMe\">taxpayer-funded resources<\/a>, following concerns raised in a private letter from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley. The letter requested thorough records of Patel\u2019s FBI aircraft travel, including costs and reimbursement details, and questioned the bureau\u2019s purchase of BMW vehicles instead of customary Chevrolet Suburbans. Democrats have accused Patel of seeking special perks, such as helicopter tours, VIP snorkeling at Pearl Harbor, and using FBI aircraft for personal trips like attending the Winter Olympics. while some trips were planned, critics argue that Patel engaged in luxuries when possible, reflecting a pattern of prioritizing leisure over official conduct. Patel and his spokesperson deny any misuse of resources, stating reimbursements are made for personal travel. The <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >disagreement highlights ongoing oversight tensions<\/a>,intricate by Democrats\u2019 lack of subpoena power in the current Republican-controlled chambers,with potential enforcement expected after the upcoming midterm elections.  <\/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 class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Congressional <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/democratic-party\/\">Democrats<\/a> are pushing <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> for answers over his use of taxpayer-funded resources after a private letter from Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-grassley\/\">Chuck Grassley<\/a> (R-IA) raised many of their same concerns about the director\u2019s spending patterns.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Rep. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/jamie-raskin\/\">Jamie Raskin<\/a> (D-MD) and Sen. <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/dick-durbin\/\">Dick Durbin<\/a> (D-IL), the top Democrats on the House and <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/senate-judiciary-committee\/page\/11\/\">Senate Judiciary Committees<\/a>, disclosed Thursday that Grassley sent the Trump administration\u2019s FBI director a private letter in May <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/bill-cassidy-investigating-jb-pritzkers-handling-of-health-records-breach\/\" title=\"Bill Cassidy investigating JB Pritzker&#039;s handling of health ... breach\">seeking detailed records<\/a> about his use of FBI aircraft and the bureau\u2019s purchase of armored BMW vehicles for the director\u2019s transportation.<\/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\/4640999\/tyler-robinson-ex-lover-testimony-to-play-in-court-after-fight-over-admission\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Tyler Robinson\u2019s ex-lover\u2019s testimony to be played in court after fight over its admission<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4641218\/alleged-jan-6-pipe-bomber-brian-cole-jr-trial-set-february\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Alleged Jan. 6 pipe bomber Brian Cole Jr.\u2019s trial set for February<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4640909\/doj-inmate-tablet-california-prison-pornography-scandal\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>DOJ announces \u2018inmate tablets\u2019 despite California prison pornography scandal<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">FBI Director Kash Patel listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner for members of his administration and law enforcement organization leaders, during National Police Week, in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/\/2026\/07\/localimages\/AP26132017981510.jpg?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">FBI Director Kash Patel listens as President Donald Trump speaks at a dinner for members of his administration and law enforcement organization leaders, during National Police Week, in the White House Rose Garden, Monday, May 11, 2026, in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The previously undisclosed letter, dated May 8, described the Republican chairman requesting a list of every FBI aircraft flight Patel had taken, including departure and destination locations, the cost of each trip, and whether Patel reimbursed the government for any personal travel as required by law, <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.ms.now\/news\/house-democrats-want-kash-patel-to-answer-for-his-spending-but-this-time-theyre-not-alone\">according<\/a> to a copy of the letter reviewed by <em>MS Now<\/em>.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-1\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-15\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-1\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Grassley, who often lauds the director for his work under President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/donald-trump\/\">Donald Trump<\/a>\u2018s administration, reportedly asked Patel to explain why the FBI purchased BMW vehicles instead of its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/kevin-mccarthy-calls-on-pentagon-to-restore-nsa-general-counsel-michael-ellis-to-active-service\/\" title=\"Kevin McCarthy Calls on Pentagon to Restore NSA General Counsel Michael Ellis to Active Service\">long-standing practice<\/a> of using Chevrolet Suburbans, requesting a full accounting of the financial impact of the change.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cFor decades, regardless of which political party is in the White House, I have worked to ensure that taxpayer dollars are protected from waste, fraud, and abuse,\u201d Grassley wrote, noting he has subjected FBI directors under both Republican and Democratic administrations to similar oversight. The <em>Washington Examiner <\/em>made multiple requests to Grassley\u2019s office to obtain a copy of the letter.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Raskin and Durbin said Grassley\u2019s inquiries closely mirror concerns Democrats have been raising for months as whistleblowers provided information about Patel\u2019s travel and spending practices. Just weeks after Grassley\u2019s letter, Senate Minority Leader <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/chuck-schumer\/\">Chuck Schumer<\/a> (D-NY) asked Patel for an <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/senate\/4586929\/democrats-demand-kash-patel-personal-travel-fbi-vip-snorkel\/\">extensive record of his travels.<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-2\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-16\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-2\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\">Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks as FBI Director Kash Patel appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his first oversight hearing, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/p>\n<p>&#8221; data-large-file=&#8221;https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AP25259527854198_e7c360.webp?w=696&#8243; &#8220;https:><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., speaks as FBI Director Kash Patel appears before the Senate Judiciary Committee for his first oversight hearing, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025, at the Capitol in Washington. (AP Photo\/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe appreciate Chairman Grassley raising these concerns, which mirror those raised repeatedly by House and Senate Judiciary Committee Democrats,\u201d the lawmakers wrote in a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/democrats-judiciary.house.gov\/sites\/evo-subsites\/democrats-judiciary.house.gov\/files\/evo-media-document\/2026-07-08-raskin-durbin-to-patel-fbi-re-jet-usage-letter.pdf\">separate letter to Patel<\/a> on Wednesday.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Democrats accused Patel of repeatedly seeking \u201cspecial perks\u201d while traveling on official business, citing reports that he requested a taxpayer-funded helicopter tour in East Asia, participated in jet skiing and a <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4569500\/kash-patel-vip-snorkel-pearl-harbor-memorial\/\">VIP snorkeling excursion<\/a> around the sunken <em>USS Arizona<\/em> in <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/hawaii\/\">Hawaii<\/a>, and used an FBI aircraft to attend the Winter Olympics in Milan, where he celebrated with the U.S. men\u2019s hockey team after its gold medal victory.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">According to the lawmakers, a whistleblower described a pattern of behavior by Patel to engage in luxuries when available, recalling the director saying, \u201cIf you have golf, hockey, fishing, or hunting and beautiful sights, you\u2019re going to see a lot of me.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-3\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-17\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-3\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Despite Democrats\u2019 complaints, some trips taken by the director have been long planned, such as the trip to Milan, which he described as a needed venture to ensure the United States is prepared for the security needed ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, Patel has been busy in recent weeks coordinating with officials running the FIFA World Cup, touting on X Thursday the \u201cover 4,500 personnel supporting the games \u2014 the most extensive level of support the FBI has provided a global sporting event in its history.\u201d<\/p>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-x wp-block-embed-x\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Great visit with the WH FIFA Task Force \u2018Special Events Coordination Center\u2019 led by my friend <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/AndrewHGiuliani?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">@AndrewHGiuliani<\/a> \u2013 a central interagency hub for real-time coordination and intelligence sharing as we safeguard the World Cup across 11 host cities, as well as Canada and Mexico. The\u2026 <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/2GGuwwkari\">pic.twitter.com\/2GGuwwkari<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 FBI Director Kash Patel (@FBIDirectorKash) <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/FBIDirectorKash\/status\/2075209731543556543?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">July 9, 2026<\/a><\/p><\/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.x.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script> <\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Patel and his spokesman Ben Williamson have repeatedly denied any improper use of government resources and have said that Patel reimburses the government for any personal travel aboard FBI aircraft at the equivalent commercial airfare rate.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-4\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-25\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-4\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cGovernment agencies, including the FBI, routinely evaluate, replace and update vehicle fleets based on usage, security needs or budgetary decisions,\u201d Williamson said in December, defending the bureau\u2019s purchase of new BMWs.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/justice\/4569500\/kash-patel-vip-snorkel-pearl-harbor-memorial\/\">PATEL WENT ON \u2018VIP SNORKEL\u2019 AT PEARL HARBOR MEMORIAL, EMAILS SHOW<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Notably, Democrats lack subpoena power as the minority party in both the House and Senate chambers. It would take a reversal of those current Republican majorities in order to give Democrats the enforcement power they need to compel Patel\u2019s responses, which could happen after November\u2019s midterm elections.<\/p>\n<div class=\"wex-inarticle-ad wex-inarticle-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\">\n<div class=\"wex-ad-wrap wex-ad-art-dsk-inart-5\" style=\"min-height:90px\"><span class=\"wex-ad-label\" hidden>Advertisement<\/span><\/p>\n<div id=\"div-gpt-ad-3182201-26\" data-wex-ad=\"art-dsk-inart-5\"><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Neither Williamson nor Grassley\u2019s office immediately responded to repeated requests for comment on the Democrats\u2019 latest letter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Democrats demand answers from Kash Patel on taxpayer spending<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2633,"featured_media":2627376,"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\/kash-patel-fbi-seal-collage-e1779474048607.jpg?1783609364&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[33651,538],"tags":[44093,3685,50645,82484,44864],"class_list":["post-2627375","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-western-journal","category-washington-examiner","tag-congressional-investigation","tag-democrats","tag-fbi-2","tag-government-perks","tag-kash-patel"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/kash-patel-fbi-seal-collage-e1779474048607.jpg?1783609364&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627375","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=2627375"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627375\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2627379,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2627375\/revisions\/2627379"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2627376"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2627375"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2627375"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2627375"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}