The internet erupted on Wednesday after the New York Times reported on Kash Patel's new "Hoover-esque" investigation.
The Times reported that the FBI had begun investigating one of its reporters, Elizabeth Williamson, after she published a profile of Patel's girlfriend, country music singer Alexis Wilkins, that raised questions about the level of security Wilkins received and the amount of time Patel spent traveling to see her, using FBI jets. The agency declined to seek a formal investigation, according to the report.
Political analysts and observers chimed in on social media, calling the investigation "Hoover-esque," a reference to J. Edgar Hoover, a former FBI director who created a massive domestic spying apparatus.
"Kash Patel must be fired or forced to resign NOW," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) posted on X.
"Flat-out unconstitutional and a threat to the free press (which is obviously what Patel wants)," journalist Mark Follman posted on Bluesky.
"This is Hoover-esque level of abuse. Beyond unacceptable," Patrick Skinner, a police officer, posted on X.
"It doesn't seem like the FBI investigating a journalist for exposing Patel spending tax $ to have a full-time FBI SWAT team guard his girlfriend will help him achieve his goal of stopping people from finding out he's spending their tax $ on stuff like having an FBI SWAT team guard his girlfriend," journalist Dan Friedman posted on Bluesky.