Kash Patel, director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, has pushed back against ridicule after a leaked report claimed he refused to leave a plane in Utah without a raid jacket — ultimately wearing a women’s-sized one.
According to the internal document, Patty insisted on donning an official “FBI raid jacket” before descending from the aircraft during a mission tied to the investigation of the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Agents reportedly scrambled to locate a suitable jacket and ended up lending a female agent’s medium-sized coat. Patel then allegedly demanded that patches be attached before he would disembark.
The revelation sparked public mockery from critics including Eric Swalwell, who accused Patel of “cosplaying” as an agent rather than handling serious threats such as domestic terrorism. In response, Patel fired back on social media, defending his record by pointing to a 30 percent increase in domestic-terror arrests under his leadership.
The leaked 115-page report from a group of active-duty and retired agents paints a harsh picture of the agency’s current leadership. It describes the FBI as “rudderless,” criticizes Patel and his deputy for poor management and social-media focus, and raises questions about morale and internal stability.
As scrutiny mounts, the incident has intensified debate over leadership and accountability at the top of the FBI. Many observers say the jacket episode could become symbolic of broader institutional issues under Patel’s watch.