Overview
- Speaking on Katie Miller’s podcast with partner Alexis Wilkins, Patel said he saw her perform only three times this year and estimated he attends about 15 percent of her shows.
- Patel argued that FBI directors cannot travel commercially and said directing flights to bases such as Andrews saves taxpayer money compared with using Reagan National.
- Critics denounced use of a government aircraft for personal trips as an abuse of public resources and urged Patel to pay for such travel himself.
- The interview’s timing drew fresh criticism as authorities searched for the suspect in the Brown University killings that left two dead and several injured.
- Patel also defended Wilkins on X, calling attacks on her baseless and condemning scrutiny of his personal life.