Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, is seeking additional information from FBI Director Kash Patel regarding his use of FBI aircraft and the bureau’s purchase of BMW vehicles, according to a new report.
The request places Grassley alongside Democratic lawmakers who have also sought greater transparency surrounding Patel’s travel and agency spending.
MS NOW correspondent Ken Dilanian reported Thursday that Grassley sent a letter to Patel requesting documentation related to the FBI director’s travel after whistleblower accounts were provided to Democrats serving on the House and Senate Judiciary committees.
According to the report, those whistleblower accounts raised concerns about Patel’s taxpayer-funded travel while serving as head of the FBI.
Grassley’s letter specifically asks Patel to account for any personal use of FBI aircraft and whether the bureau was reimbursed when required under federal law.
“For each trip where you used an FBI aircraft for personal travel, have you reimbursed the FBI as required by law? If yes, please provide the records,” Grassley wrote in the letter.
The reported inquiry focuses on obtaining records related to Patel’s travel and determining whether any reimbursements were made in cases involving personal use of government aircraft.
In addition to questions surrounding Patel’s flights, Grassley is also seeking information regarding the FBI’s purchase of BMW vehicles, according to the report.
The reported requests come after whistleblower accounts provided to Democrats on both the House and Senate Judiciary committees flagged Patel’s travel practices as FBI director.
Grassley’s decision to seek additional documentation represents a bipartisan effort to obtain more details about the FBI director’s use of agency resources, according to the report.
Dilanian reported that Grassley’s letter asks Patel to provide records documenting any reimbursements made to the FBI for personal travel conducted aboard bureau aircraft.
The inquiry centers on whether the director complied with legal requirements governing reimbursement for personal use of government-owned aircraft.
The report did not provide additional details regarding the whistleblower allegations beyond concerns about Patel’s taxpayer-backed travel, nor did it elaborate on the circumstances surrounding the bureau’s BMW purchases.
Grassley’s letter, as reported by Dilanian, seeks documentation that could clarify both issues.
The Judiciary Committee chairman’s request comes as lawmakers continue exercising oversight of federal agencies and their use of taxpayer-funded resources.
According to the report, the focus of Grassley’s inquiry is to determine whether proper procedures were followed regarding Patel’s travel and whether any required reimbursements were made.
The letter specifically requests records supporting Patel’s compliance with the law governing personal use of FBI aircraft.
The report also noted that the inquiry extends to information about BMW vehicles purchased by the FBI, though no additional details about those purchases were included.
At this stage, Grassley is requesting records and information from Patel rather than making findings about the matters under review.
The reported letter reflects an effort to gather additional facts concerning the FBI director’s travel and agency expenditures following whistleblower accounts that raised questions before members of the House and Senate Judiciary committees.
