Georgia Event Triggers FBI Scrutiny Over Kash Patel’s SWAT Deployment

[Thiệu Ngô]

Patel enraged at SWAT team for leaving girlfriend when she sang national anthem: report

By CHARLOTTE HAZARD

ATLANTA, Georgia — FBI Director Kash Patel is facing internal scrutiny after directing a SWAT team to protect his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, during her national anthem performance at the National Rifle Association’s annual convention earlier this year. According to reporting from the New York Times, the two agents assigned to Wilkins departed the Georgia World Congress Center before the event ended, determining the venue was already secure. Their early exit prompted Patel to sharply reprimand the unit’s commander, citing concerns that Wilkins had been left without a taxpayer-funded protective detail.

Wilkins, 27, has reportedly received significant online threats tied to her relationship with Patel. The FBI confirmed earlier this year that the protective detail was issued due to “hundreds of credible death threats,” though the agency did not disclose operational specifics. The New York Times reports that Patel’s broader use of government resources — including access to security teams and travel aboard federal aircraft — has raised concerns within the administration about whether his activities exceed typical practice.

The National News Desk noted that Patel defended Wilkins publicly, writing on X that attacks directed at her were “disgustingly baseless.” Critics argue that partners of agency heads do not usually receive federal security details, even when facing threats, making the decision unusual.

Questions over resource use now accompany Patel’s first months in office, as officials examine whether protective deployments and travel decisions adhered to established federal guidelines.