FBI Director Kash Patel Criticizes Agents Over Handling of Charlie Kirk Shooting Investigation
In a high-stakes Thursday morning virtual meeting, FBI Director Kash Patel reportedly expressed sharp frustration toward his subordinates regarding their management of the investigation into the fatal shooting of Charlie Kirk.
More than 200 FBI agents participated in the online call, initially revealed by The New York Times. An insider described Patel’s rebuke of what he called “Mickey Mouse operations” — one of the few moments he refrained from using profanity during the tense discussion.
Patel, joined by FBI Deputy Director Dan Bongino, stressed the urgency of capturing Kirk’s killer. Patel specifically reprimanded Salt Lake City agents for delaying the release of a photo of the suspect by 12 hours, according to The Times.
Both Patel and Bongino flew to Utah on Thursday to oversee the ongoing investigation firsthand.
On Friday, authorities arrested 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, the suspect in the shooting. Utah Governor Spencer Cox confirmed the arrest followed a tip from a family friend who reported Robinson had confessed or implied involvement in the incident to his relatives.
Charlie Kirk was shot at an event held at Utah Valley University on Wednesday. Patel acknowledged that the FBI initially took a suspect into custody on social media platform X the same day but later released him after questioning, a misstep that drew significant criticism.
Patel’s handling of the investigation has been questioned by several MAGA supporters, raising doubts about his leadership capabilities at the FBI.
Conservative activist Chris Rufo criticized Patel’s performance on X, writing, “He performed terribly in the last few days, and it’s not clear whether he has the operational expertise to investigate, infiltrate, and disrupt violent movements threatening the peace in the U.S.”
Before joining the FBI, Patel worked as a federal prosecutor and served as chief of staff at the Department of Defense. His relatively limited law enforcement background has been a point of contention among some GOP officials.
Former Trump advisor Steve Bannon also expressed skepticism about the arrest, calling it “not great law enforcement work” on his show Bannon’s War Room. Bannon questioned Patel’s decision to travel thousands of miles to Utah, interpreting the visit as largely symbolic.
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