Senate Judiciary Chair Chuck Grassley asks FBI Director Patel to account for jet travel and BMW purchases

Senate Judiciary Chairman Chuck Grassley sent a May 5 letter to FBI Director Kash Patel requesting a detailed accounting of Patel’s use of FBI aircraft and the bureau’s recent acquisition of armored BMW SUVs, which replaced longtime Chevrolet Suburbans.

The letter asks Patel to provide a list of every flight taken on an FBI jet, the destinations, costs and whether any personal trips were reimbursed, as well as a cost‑benefit analysis comparing the BMWs to the previous vehicle model. Grassley gave Patel a May 19 deadline to respond.

Grassley’s inquiry follows broader congressional scrutiny; House and Senate Democrats have also asked Patel for information about trips to Milan for the 2028 Olympics, a viral video of Patel drinking beer in the U.S. men’s hockey locker room, and other leisure activities such as helicopter tours, jet‑skiing and a VIP snorkeling excursion. Patel’s office says travel complies with post‑9/11 regulations that require the FBI director to use government aircraft for security reasons.

Congress currently lacks subpoena power, so any binding answers may await the November midterm elections. The episode raises concerns about taxpayer‑funded perks and oversight of the FBI.