FBI Insider Alleges Director Kash Patel Emphasized Social Media Over Investigation After Shooting Incident
An anonymous FBI insider, whose identity has been protected by The New York Times, has made startling claims about Director Kash Patel's immediate response following the shooting death of Charlie Kirk. According to the source, Patel's first reaction centered on social media strategy rather than operational details or resource allocation.
'Surreal' Conference Call Focused on Twitter Tactics
The insider described the conference call that occurred right after the shooting as "surreal", revealing that Patel reportedly said, "I'm gonna tweet this," as his then-deputy Dan Bongino began discussing their approach to social media. The source detailed how Patel and Bongino allegedly scripted their Twitter responses during the call, with Patel directing specific tweets to different team members.
"They're literally scripting out their social media, not talking about how we're going to respond or resources or the situation," the FBI insider stated. "He's screaming that he wants to put stuff out, but it's not even vetted yet. It's not even accurate."
Insider Questions Patel's Understanding of Crisis Management
The anonymous source expressed concern about Patel's approach to crisis situations, noting that initial information in such cases is often incorrect and requires careful vetting. The insider claimed Patel neither understands nor wants to understand this fundamental aspect of law enforcement work.
"Everyone on the call is just like: This guy is completely out of control," the person revealed. "On another call, he said: When a crisis happens, the only thing you need to do is call me. The most important thing in any crisis is controlling the narrative. I was like: No, no, no. We actually have to do some work here. We're going to have to investigate to solve this."
Previous Controversy Over Misinformation
This isn't the first time Kash Patel has faced criticism for his handling of information during crises. He previously came under fire for posting incorrect information that a suspect was in custody, when in reality the detained individual was later released without charges.
Patel addressed this incident by stating that the FBI was simply being transparent about their investigative process - they had detained someone on suspicion and subsequently released them when evidence didn't support continued detention.
FBI Dismisses Claims as 'Fake Narratives'
In response to The New York Times article, the FBI issued a strong statement rejecting the insider's account. The agency characterized the story as "a regurgitation of fake narratives, conjecture, and speculation from anonymous sources who are disconnected from reality".
The statement continued: "They can whine and peddle falsehoods all they want - but it won't change the fact that the F.B.I. under this administration worked with partners at every level and delivered a historic 2025."
This conflicting narrative between an anonymous insider and official FBI statements highlights ongoing debates about crisis communication strategies within law enforcement agencies and the balance between immediate public information and accurate investigation.
