Republican Senator Chuck Grassley is investigating allegations that FBI Director Kash Patel misused taxpayer funds for personal travel and vehicle purchases. The inquiry follows letters sent by Grassley and Democratic lawmakers.
Grassley, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, sent a letter to Patel in May requesting details on the use of FBI aircraft for personal trips and the purchase of BMW vehicles. He asked whether Patel reimbursed the agency for any personal travel as required by law and called for an independent review of the transportation arrangements.
The Republican senator publicly addressed the matter on July 9, 2026, stating that Democrats were "riding his coattails" on oversight of FBI aircraft. Grassley noted he has applied the same standards to FBI leaders regardless of administration.
Democrats including Senator Dick Durbin and Representative Jamie Raskin had raised similar concerns earlier, with Durbin writing in February and both issuing a joint letter this week. They cited a whistleblower account of Patel's remarks about travel preferences and past trips including one to the Olympics.
Patel has denied any misconduct. An FBI spokesman previously said agencies routinely update vehicle fleets based on operational needs.
