Flying High on Your Dime
Demanding accountability for FBI Director Kash Patel’s “wild" rides
American democracy is facing a multi-front battle — among them, rampant corruption at the highest levels of government. And while this movement is primarily focused on ensuring free and fair midterm elections and preventing authoritarianism from taking hold, there’s always time to address a brazen abuse of public trust. In this case, it’s what appears to be misuse of government aircraft by FBI Director Kash Patel.
Late last week, our strategic litigation partner Campaign Legal Center (CLC) filed a formal complaint with the Department of Justice (DOJ) Office of the Inspector General (OIG). Our movement’s demand is clear: a comprehensive investigation into whether Director Patel violated federal travel regulations and standards of conduct by failing to reimburse the government for at least 10 trips that appear to be purely personal.
The “Personal” Itinerary
Under federal law, FBI Directors are “required use” travelers, which means they must use government aircraft for all travel due to security and communication needs. However, they are legally mandated to reimburse the taxpayers for any travel expenses not related to official duties. According to CLC, Patel’s travel history since being sworn in in February 2025 suggests a pattern of treating the federal fleet like a private jet taxi service:
The Milan “Gold Medal” Trip: In February 2026, Patel flew to Italy using government aircraft to attend the Winter Olympics. While the FBI claimed the trip was professional, Patel had publicly expressed his personal intent to watch the U.S. men’s hockey team as early as July 2025. His official schedule in Milan included only a 20-minute security briefing, leaving him ample time to celebrate in the locker room, where he was filmed drinking and spraying beer with the athletes.
The “Boondoggle Ranch”: During a government shutdown in October 2025, Patel used a government jet to visit a luxury hunting resort in Texas owned by a prominent Republican donor. No official purpose for this visit has been provided.
The Wrestling Tournament: Patel flew to State College, PA, to attend a “Real American Freestyle” wrestling tournament where his girlfriend performed. Records show the jet landed at 5:40 PM and departed just over two hours later for Nashville.
The Scotland Swing: In August 2025, Patel utilized government resources to shuttle himself and friends to the Carnegie Club, an exclusive golf resort in Inverness, Scotland, involving extensive and expensive security preparations.
The Nashville Shuttle: Patel’s girlfriend confirmed that he has used a government jet to visit her in Nashville at least five times. While the personal nature of these trips is undisputed, the question remains whether Patel actually reimbursed the government.
A History of Accountability: The Sessions Precedent
Patel’s behavior doesn’t just look bad, it’s potentially a violation of his duty to “protect and conserve Government property”. CLC’s complaint highlights a historical parallel that reaches back to 1993., when FBI Director William Sessions was fired by President Clinton. A DOJ investigation found he used the FBI plane for personal trips and then “sought to characterize these trips as ‘official’ to avoid reimbursing the government.”
By comparing Patel’s travel to past directors, the scale of the potential abuse becomes even more apparent. For instance, from 2007 to 2011, Director Robert Mueller took only seven wholly personal flights in four years; Patel is accused of taking at least 10 (and potentially up to 20) in less than one year.
Why Ethics Matter for Democracy
Ethics laws serve as a critical guardrail for our democratic institutions. When high-ranking officials evade accountability, it erodes public trust and signals that those in power are above the law. Our movement refuses to allow that to be true. Together, we’ll ensure the government is accountable to the people it serves, not the personal whims of those in charge. It may not happen as immediately as we’d all hope, but the day will come. It must.
I want MY MONEY BACK!
The example starts at the top......