FBI Director Kash Patel took a Justice Department plane to Italy, where he is expected to attend a Winter Olympics hockey event.
Mr. Patel, a lifelong ice hockey player, coach and fan, plays in a local hockey league in Virginia. His government flight Thursday, putting him in Milan for the USA men’s hockey team’s medal-round competitions, could cost taxpayers up to $75,000.
FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson insisted on social media that it is “not a personal trip.”
He said Mr. Patel is on a trip that was planned months ago, which includes partner meetings with Italian law enforcement, who extended the invitation in July; a meeting with U.S. Ambassador to Italy and San Marino Tilman Fertitta, a follow-up on a January law enforcement roundtable; and meetings with special agents stationed in Europe, among others.
“The FBI also has a major role in Olympic security — as we do with the World Cup, F1 and more — so we have a U.S. Consulate briefing on Olympic security and current FBI posture, as well as thanking FBI personnel on the ground,” Mr. Williamson said.
As a big hockey fan, Mr. Patel has enthusiastically cheered on U.S. hockey teams on social media and likely will score premium seats for the men’s Olympic hockey team, which is competing in the medal rounds — right after the women’s team won gold in a dramatic overtime win against Canada.
Mr. Williamson also said that the director called him about CBS News first reporting on his trip to Italy, saying, “Please tell them, yes, I am rooting for the greatest team on earth from the greatest country on earth. Go Team USA.”
His use of a government jet is not new to scrutiny, as he has used the plane for multiple personal trips.
Democrats on the House Judiciary Committee asked Mr. Patel to turn over the flight logs of his agency’s jet in January, citing reports of his alleged “date night” with his girlfriend and other examples of personal use.
FBI directors are required to use government planes for air travel, including bringing family or friends along on personal trips. However, they must reimburse the government for any personal flights.
He previously used the FBI aircraft to attend hockey games, according to CBS News.
• Mary McCue Bell can be reached at mbell@washingtontimes.com.
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