Hirono Presses FBI Director Kash Patel on Abuse of Power, Leadership Failures

~ Watch Senator Hirono’s Statement Here ~ WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono (D-HI), a senior member of the Senate Committee on the Judiciary, pressed Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Kash Patel on his repeated failure to uphold the ideals of the agency he leads. During a full Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, Senator Hirono questioned Patel on his “VIP snorkel tour” and partying in Milan, following his failure to respond to her previous requests that he disclose his personal travel and its costs to American taxpayers. During her time, Senator Hirono traced a pattern of Patel’s mismanagement of the FBI and raised concerns about his ability to lead an agency tasked with enforcing the law and investigating public corruption. “You have been at the helm of the FBI for almost two years, and the list of your failings is long and frankly growing,” said Senator Hirono. Senator Hirono began her statement by highlighting Director Patel’s irresponsible use of taxpayer money and disrespect for the sailors honored and entombed at the Pearl Harbor National Memorial during his “VIP snorkeling trip,” raising concerns about Patel’s broader pattern of conducting personal travel events on American taxpayers’ dime. Since 2020, these Pearl Harbor snorkeling tours have only been available to senior Defense officers, members of the military, and one American Congressman who served in the Special Forces—with the notable exception of Director Patel, who is neither a member of defense leadership, nor a member or veteran of the American military. “If this snorkel tour were a one-off incident, that would be one thing. But it’s part of a broader pattern of using your office to benefit yourself, showing your lack of judgment and character,” said Senator Hirono . “You have wasted untold taxpayer dollars driving around in foreign luxury cars, partying in Italy, and flying a private jet to play golf and watch hockey.” Senator Hirono raised alarms about the mass firings at the FBI under Patel’s leadership, including 12 Iran experts who were dismissed shortly before the beginning of the war in Iran. She also called attention to changes in FBI hiring policy under Patel that removed theft from an employer, sex solicitation, and bestiality from the list of automatic hiring disqualifications. “I think all of us would love to know why an organization charged with investigating theft should bring thieves into its midst,” said Senator Hirono. Senator Hirono listed some of the FBI’s responsibilities, which include investigating sex crimes, drug trafficking, corruption, and foreign malign influence, as well as defending the nation against domestic threats, including ethnically and racially motivated extremists. “The good work still being done by the remaining FBI agents and analysts on the sort of cases you describe is happening in spite of, and not because of, your leadership,” said Senator Hirono. Senator Hirono concluded her statement by highlighting Patel’s failure to investigate multiple examples of public corruption the Trump Administration has engaged in, including the $400 million gifted jet from Qatar, offering tech billionaires special White House access in exchange for payment for the White House ballroom, and recent reporting of a Russian oligarch contributing $170,000 for Donald Trump Jr.’s wedding. “The FBI is supposed to be investigating this sort of blatant public corruption,” she said. To see the full video of Senator Hirono’s statement click here. A full transcript of Senator Hirono’s statement is available below: Mr. Patel, the FBI Director should at least try to be above reproach. But there are many questions and concerns raised about your judgment and character. For example, in August 2025, you took a VIP snorkeling tour around the USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor, a sacred site. Sacred. That is why these tours are rare. Since 2020, only senior Defense officials, members of the military, and one congressman who was a special forces veteran have participated. And then came you. When this incident came to light in May, Senators Schumer, Durbin, and I sent you a letter. And we asked you three simple questions: First: what personal travel have you taken as FBI Director? Two: what non-official activities have you attended as part of official travel? Three: what has been the cost to taxpayers of these kinds of activities? Three months later, we have received no response. Mr. Patel, when can we expect your response to that letter? Is there a date anywhere when we can expect a response? I don’t have a response, do you have it with you? Maybe you can hand it to me. The reason I ask that is because I had a director who said that there was a report that he had, right then and there. And then it didn’t come to me until a lot later. If you have a response, give it to me right now please. I assume there is no response. I’m not going to be holding my breath that you will provide that response. If this snorkel tour were a one-off incident, that would be one thing. But it’s part of a broader pattern of using your office to benefit yourself, showing your lack of judgement and character. You have wasted untold taxpayer dollars driving around in foreign luxury cars, partying in Italy, and flying a private jet to play golf and watch hockey. There has been bipartisan criticism. I’m glad to know that some of my Republican colleagues actually criticized some of this activity, and they have criticized this waste and abuse. Maybe today one of my Republican colleagues will demand an explanation. Now, Mr. Patel, you have clearly politicized the FBI. And whenever you are asked, even today, questions you don’t feel like answering you respond it’s “ongoing” it’s “part of an investigation.” You think that covers everything and so you don’t answer. That is what you’ve resorted to, aside from, I’ve just watched you today in a very combative mode with my colleague Senator Welch and you attacking him, which is also the way you approach questions that you don’t want to answer. And then I note your recent appearance before the Senate Appropriations Committee, I’ll get to that in a bit. To be clear, there are many things you should answer for. You have been at the helm of the FBI for almost two years, and the list of your failings is long and frankly growing. You have decimated the FBI workforce. The FBI today is down thousands of dedicated professionals who worked to keep our country safe. And frankly, your answers to questions along those lines have been unbelievable. If I thought I could get a truthful answer out of you, I’d ask you questions like what the hell you were thinking firing a dozen Iran experts on the eve of an illegal war with Iran. The good work still being done by the remaining FBI agents and analysts on the sort of cases you describe are happening in spite of, and not because of you. You have lowered hiring standards to allow applicants with a history of bestiality and theft to serve as FBI employees. I think all of us would love to know why an organization charged with investigating theft should bring thieves into your midst. But you won’t give a straight answer as to why this change was made to your hiring, even to Senator Kennedy’s questions this morning. I think he’s still pretty mystified that bestiality was taken off the list. You have been so drunk that briefings have been rescheduled so you could sleep it off. When challenged by Senator Van Hollen at the Appropriations hearing several months ago to take an alcoholism test, you agreed. Sen. Van Hollen has posted the results of his test. We’re all still waiting to see post the results of your test. The FBI has long identified Racially or Ethnically Motivated Violent Extremists, including White Nationalists, as the most lethal group of domestic terrorists in our country. Your FBI no longer talks about that threat. You no longer post about it. And it’s not because the threat has gone away. You approved so-called “surges” where FBI agents were diverted to low-level, non-criminal, immigration enforcement, something we know is near and dear to the President’s heart, when these agents should be focused on important missions such as preventing sex crimes, elder fraud, and drug trafficking. You have undermined prosecutions by posting details to your social media. You testified today to questions you don’t feel like answering “it’s ongoing, it’s under investigation, can’t talk about it” and yet, you have actually posted for things that are ongoing and where you should keep your mouth shut. Your FBI executed a raid of an elections office in Fulton County, Georgia, and seized ballots in an effort to prove the President’s unhinged conspiracy theories about the 2020 election. Another thing near and dear to the President’s heart in which you sought to help him out on. And yet, you have done nothing about the rampant corruption now taking place at the highest levels of the executive branch: We all know that President Trump accepted a $400 million dollar jet from Qatar, which he plans to keep after he leaves office. Tech billionaires received special access to the White House in exchange for paying for the President’s new ballroom vanity project. Pardons have been available for $1 million dollar contributions to the President’s campaign. And just this week, it has been revealed that a Russian Oligarch paid hundreds of thousands of dollars for Donald Trump Jr. to have his wedding on a private island. The FBI is supposed to be investigating this sort of blatant public corruption, not turning a blind eye. Mr. Patel, this country needs an FBI who will give us straight answers, not the kind of rhetoric that you have provided once again today. It is a disservice to this Committee’s oversight functions and certainly a disservice to the American people. It is no wonder former AG Bill Barr said you would take a leadership role at the FBI over his dead body. And yet, here you are. Mr. Chairman, I’m done with this witness. ###