Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, on Tuesday accused FBI Director Kash Patel of using government aircraft in ways that disrupted time-sensitive criminal investigations, citing new whistleblower allegations provided to his office.

Durbin forwarded the claims to add to a review he had already asked the Government Accountability Office and the Justice Department’s inspector general to conduct, The Hill reported. The allegations outline at least two episodes, one tied to the fatal shooting of conservative commentator Charlie Kirk and another connected to a shooting at Brown University. In both cases, Durbin argues that decisions made by Patel regarding travel or operations slowed the FBI’s response.

At the same time, Patel is facing a separate examination over his visit to Italy, where he was recorded celebrating with the U.S. Men’s Olympic Hockey Team following its gold medal win.

The issue has drawn sharp criticism from Durbin and other oversight advocates who argue that the director's personal interests may be influencing official operations. Supporters of Patel, including FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson, have pushed back forcefully, calling the claims baseless and politically motivated. Understanding the full picture requires examining each allegation and the FBI's response in detail.

Patel Allegedly Set the Tone Early in His Tenure

According to Durbin, a credible source told his staff that Patel signaled his travel preferences early during his time leading the bureau. Durbin wrote that Patel told field offices in a meeting last year: "If you have golf, hockey, fishing, or hunting and beautiful sights, you're going to see a lot of me." Durbin argued that these remarks foreshadowed a pattern of travel driven by personal leisure rather than mission priorities.

"The Director's personal leisure activities and travel bucket list should not dictate work travel, nor should it have a material impact on the Bureau's time-sensitive operations and investigations," Durbin wrote. Patel has previously faced criticism for flying on the FBI jet to sporting events and to see his country singer girlfriend perform. FBI directors are required to fly on official aircraft for security reasons and are expected to reimburse the government at the equivalent cost of a commercial ticket.

Durbin noted that additional whistleblower disclosures indicate the director's decisions involving DOJ- or FBI-controlled aircraft have "negatively impacted high-profile criminal investigations." He raised concerns about whether adequate internal controls exist to track compliance with reimbursement requirements for non-mission travel.

Charlie Kirk Shooting Response Allegedly Delayed

One of the most specific allegations involves the aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk. Durbin said the FBI's shooting reconstruction team was asked to fly to Utah to help process the crime scene. However, the team's deployment was reportedly delayed by at least a day.

Durbin attributed the delay to a shortage of bureau planes and pilots caused by Patel's personal flights. Specifically, Durbin said pilots who had recently transported Patel could not be dispatched because they had reached FAA-mandated flight-time limits, which triggered mandatory rest periods. This left the reconstruction team without available air transport.

"In the immediate aftermath of the murder of Charlie Kirk, the FBI's shooting reconstruction team was asked to fly to Utah to aid the investigation and process the scene. However, the team's deployment was delayed by at least a day because of a Bureau plane and pilot shortage caused by the Director's personal flights," Durbin wrote. Williamson called the allegation around the Kirk shooting "more egregious" among Durbin's claims and stated that Patel was on official travel when Kirk was killed.

FBI Says Director Was on Official Business During Kirk Timeline

"Kash was in DC on 9/10 and in New York the next day for the 9/11 ceremonies – not personal travel. Durbin and whoever he's speaking to are full of it," Williamson wrote. The FBI did not respond to a separate request for comment but challenged the allegations publicly online.

Regarding the Brown University shooting, Durbin described a different type of problem — not travel logistics, but Patel's operational decision-making. Durbin alleged that Patel directed the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team to be placed on standby to respond to the shooting, rather than utilizing SWAT teams based closer to the scene in New York and Boston. Durbin said that the standby posture effectively froze the aircraft for other FBI teams.

"All the SWAT teams in the region would have been aware of the Brown University shooting and ready to respond if needed," Durbin said, adding that responders were forced to drive overnight to arrive and process evidence. Williamson countered that the Brown University incident was initially a state-led investigation. "This is a ridiculous claim. If the Director happens to be out of town, he always offers the plane if needed anyway – and he did so here. It wasn't needed," Williamson wrote.

Italy Trip and Olympic Celebrations Under Scrutiny

Separate from the aircraft allocation allegations, Durbin challenged the FBI's characterization of Patel's recent trip to Italy. The FBI had defended the trip as official business, with Williamson calling it "not a personal trip" that was planned months ago alongside regional partners and tied to the bureau's Olympic security role. On February 21, 2026, Williamson repeated what Durbin described as a false claim that Patel did not travel to Italy "to hang out at the Olympics on the taxpayer dime."

However, Durbin noted that by February 22, 2026, just one day later, Patel was filmed celebrating with the gold medal-winning U.S. Men's Olympic Hockey Team. Videos showed Patel chugging beers, singing a Toby Keith song, and partying with the team. Durbin wrote that Patel's own admission and video evidence contradicted the bureau's official statements.

Patel has previously criticized his predecessor, Christopher Wray, and questioned Wray's use of the FBI jet. MSNOW first reported the contents of Durbin's letter. The contrast between Patel's past criticism and his current travel patterns has fueled additional scrutiny from oversight advocates.

Lessons to Learn

1. Government accountability depends on transparency. When public officials control sensitive resources like aircraft that support criminal investigations, clear tracking and oversight mechanisms are essential to prevent conflicts between personal use and operational readiness. Citizens should support and pay attention to inspector general reviews and GAO audits that serve as checks on this kind of authority.

2. Whistleblowers play a critical role in exposing potential misconduct. The allegations in this case came from individuals inside the system willing to report concerns to congressional oversight. Protections for those who come forward are vital to maintaining public trust in law enforcement institutions, and the public should advocate for strong whistleblower safeguards.

3. Delays in criminal investigations can have real consequences for victims and communities. When resources are diverted or unavailable, evidence processing and scene reconstruction can be compromised.

Why This Story Matters

This story matters because it raises fundamental questions about whether the head of the nation's premier law enforcement agency is prioritizing personal interests over the bureau's core mission of investigating serious crimes. If whistleblower allegations are accurate, operational decisions and aircraft usage by the FBI director directly delayed responses to at least two high-profile shootings, potentially affecting evidence collection and case outcomes. Public confidence in the FBI depends on the assurance that its leadership places investigative integrity above personal convenience, and congressional oversight of these claims will be closely watched by communities that rely on federal law enforcement resources.

In summary, Sen. Dick Durbin has accused FBI Director Kash Patel of using government aircraft in ways that delayed responses to the Charlie Kirk shooting in Utah and the Brown University shooting, citing new whistleblower disclosures sent to the GAO and Justice Department inspector general. The FBI, through spokesperson Ben Williamson, denied the allegations and said Patel was on official travel during the relevant periods. Durbin also challenged the bureau's account of Patel's Italy trip, pointing to videos showing Patel celebrating with the U.S. Olympic hockey team one day after the FBI publicly denied he attended the Games for personal reasons. The senator raised broader concerns about reimbursement compliance and internal controls governing the director's use of official aircraft for non-mission travel.