Kash Patel Under Fire for Allegedly Taking FBI Jet to Girlfriend’s Wrestling Event Amid US Shutdown

FBI Director Kash Patel is facing mounting criticism after a former FBI agent accused him of using a bureau-owned jet for personal travel to attend his girlfriend’s wrestling event .

At a time when many federal employees are going unpaid due to the ongoing US government shutdown. The allegations were made by ex-FBI agent–turned-podcaster Kyle Seraphin, who shared flight data and sarcastically condemned Patel’s alleged misuse of government resources. “Dear FBI Employees: I’m sorry the government ISN’T funded, so you won’t be getting a paycheck. Luckily, that doesn’t stop Real American Freestyle WRESTLING!” Seraphin wrote on X (formerly Twitter), mocking Patel with a parody sign-off: “So I flew the FBI jet to State College, PA, hung out with my chick, and then flew to Nashville where she lives. — Ka$h.”

According to The Independent, Seraphin claimed a Department of Justice–registered aircraft took a 40-minute flight from Virginia to Pennsylvania on October 25, coinciding with Patel’s reported appearance at the Real American Freestyle Wrestling event at Penn State University — where his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, performed.

Flight-tracking data cited by Seraphin allegedly showed the same jet later flew to Nashville, where Wilkins resides. The flight pattern, he said, matched Patel’s recent travel schedule. Neither the FBI nor Patel has commented on the accusations so far. However, critics argue that the optics of such a trip are damaging — especially amid a shutdown that has halted pay for thousands of federal employees.

Seraphin further blasted Patel on his podcast, claiming: “He flew a $60 million aircraft to hang out with his girlfriend. Is that gross to anybody else? We’re in the middle of a shutdown, and this guy’s jetting off on our dime.” Under federal regulations, the FBI director must use government aircraft for all travel due to the need for secure communications, but must reimburse the government for any personal trips — typically at the equivalent cost of a commercial ticket.