Kash Patel denies claims of targeting a New York Times reporter using the FBI.
Kash Patel Denies Using FBI to Target Reporter Over Story on Girlfriend Alexis Wilkins
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel pushed back during a recent Fox News interview after host Sean Hannity asked whether Patel had used the FBI to investigate a New York Times reporter who wrote an unflattering article about his girlfriend, Alexis Wilkins.
Patel denied the allegation and claimed that the reporter in question had been charged and arrested after allegedly making a threat against Wilkins.
'We're Not Going to Stand Down'
Patel recently appeared on Fox News's Hannity to discuss fraud allegations against the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) when the host raised the issue involving the New York Times reporter.
Hannity said that he felt "hesitant" to put forth this question but asked Patel whether he had used the FBI to go after the media outlet because he "didn't like a story about your girlfriend."
Kash Patel calls out the media following recent allegations.
“Is there any truth to that because I’ve known you a Long time. It just doesn’t sound like you?” the host said.
Dismissing the allegations, Patel said, "Absolutely not." He stated that the reporter in question was the same individual who had written about Wilkins.
"And that's not me saying that. This individual has been charged, arrested, and is in court. And he said, as a direct result of The New York Times reporting, he wanted to take a rifle and canoe my girlfriend's face," the FBI director claimed.
Patel further said that he intends to protect his loved ones, as well as every American citizen threatened by such individuals.
He said that the outlet had attempted to delete its past reporting, declined to accept their comments and ignored court filings.
"Me and mine are like you and President Trump. We're as tough as they come. We're not going to stand down. We're not going to take a knee on this one or anything." Patel said.
'The Ultimate Definition of Hypocrisy'
In the same Hannity show episode, Patel described the SPLC's alleged conduct as "the ultimate definition of hypocrisy," saying banking institutions are in direct contact with at least eight hate groups.
He further alleged that the groups are funded by the institutions.
The FBI director said that although these groups had promised to stop promoting hate, they continue to target the public with misleading narratives.
The host then asked for an update on arrests made by the agency from the FBI's Ten Most Wanted list.
Patel said the bureau had arrested four of the ten suspects on the list during former President Joe Biden's term and has now arrested eight of the ten during President Donald Trump's term.
He credited Trump's support for enabling agents to apprehend the fugitives, who he said ranged from terrorists and murderers to drug traffickers.
Patel also said the murder rate has dropped by 20 percentage points and opioid overdose deaths by nearly 20 percent under the current administration.
He said mainstream media had not covered these results. "Thank you for covering it because most of the media won't," Patel said.