A longtime Democratic leader on Tuesday had a serious message for FBI Director Kash Patel as Patel scrambled to respond.
Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) expressed concerns about Patel's leadership of the FBI during the Senate Appropriations Committee hearing in Washington, D.C. Patel, who was testifying before lawmakers, pushed back against claims of excessive alcohol use and other allegations of misconduct.
"I am deeply concerned about the reports that your leadership has not been serious," Murray said. "We need somebody at this agency who is focused on solving criminal cases, not passing out branded bourbon or jetting around the globe. Your job is to be reachable... If you want to pass out liquor or pop bottles in a locker room, stick to podcasting. Leave law and order to people who really do care about justices and appearances, that is really critical. It's what I am really deeply concerned about and so are many people."
Murray was referencing recent reporting from The Atlantic that Patel has been distributing personalized, FBI-branded bottles of Woodford Reserve bourbon to bureau staff and civilians during official business. The Atlantic also reported that Patel transported cases of the bourbon on a Department of Justice plane during a February trip to the Winter Olympics in Milan, where he was filmed celebrating with the U.S. men's hockey team and reportedly left a bottle behind in the locker room.
Patel attempted to defend his tenure, sharing a paper with apparent stats titled "FBI 2025 & 2026 under Trump administration," outlining his accomplishments since he took the top position.
"If people want to continue the baseless, fraudulent personal attacks at me. That's great. Keep the target on me, but the mission has never been better," Patel said.
Murray responded again.
"I appreciate the work of our FBI agents, but leadership, serious leadership is a concern," she added. "And we are seeing the pictures of passing out branded bourbon and what happened at the Olympics, jetting around the globe, all the rest of it, and that I will say, again, Mr. Chairman, is of deep concern to me."
