FBI Director Kash Patel faces scrutiny for inaccurately saying Kirk killer had been caught [View all]

Source: Reuters

September 11, 2025 3:26 PM EDT Updated 1 hour ago


WASHINGTON, Sept 11 (Reuters) - Kash Patel faced his biggest test yet as FBI director as current and former officials criticized his inaccurate statement that a suspect had been caught in the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, a prominent ally of President Donald Trump.

Moments before officials on the scene of the shooting in Orem, Utah, briefed the press on Wednesday, Patel announced on social media that the person responsible for the shooting was in custody. That claim was quickly contradicted by local officials, leading to hours of confusion before the FBI clarified that two people had been questioned and then released following the incident. Current and former U.S. officials called Patel's announcement counterproductive.

“At the outset of an investigation, much of the initial intelligence is typically wrong or slightly off. That's why what he did yesterday has never been done by any FBI director before him, or any division leadership before," said retired FBI agent Dan Brunner. "The investigators need to sort through all the initial intelligence before putting out factual evidence ... FBI does not run investigations on social media.”

A White House source, granted anonymity to discuss internal discussions, called Patel's announcement unprofessional and said "his performance is really not acceptable to the White House or the American public" and will be addressed.

Read more: https://www.reuters.com/world/us/fbi-director-kash-patel-faces-scrutiny-inaccurately-saying-kirk-killer-had-been-2025-09-11/