Kash Patel, a lawyer and vocal supporter of U.S. President Donald Trump, made the jump from frequent podcast commentator to director of the FBI in Trump's second administration.
Patel faced scrutiny in February 2026 after appearing in the U.S. men's hockey team's locker room to celebrate their gold medal win at the Winter Olympics in Milan, Italy. The incident sparked debate over whether his attendance constituted a misuse of taxpayer funds.
The FBI director has faced similar criticism in the past. In October 2025, Snopes looked into a claim that he used a government-owned jet for a date night with his girlfriend.
We've also examined multiple rumors related to Patel's role in the federal government's release of files related to deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Below is a collection of seven claims involving Patel that we've investigated:
