FBI Director Kash Patel is at the center of yet another controversy — and this one involves one of the most sacred military sites in American history. Government emails obtained by the Associated Press reveal that Patel took a secret "VIP snorkel" excursion around the sunken USS Arizona at Pearl Harbor last summer, a trip the FBI never disclosed and one that a Marine veteran who guards the hallowed site likened to "a bachelor party at a church."
What Happened: Kash Patel's Secret VIP Snorkel at Pearl Harbor
When Kash Patel visited Hawaii last summer, the FBI took pains to note the director was not on vacation, highlighting his walking tour of the bureau's Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement. Left out of the FBI's news releases was an exclusive excursion Patel took days later — what government officials described in internal emails as a "VIP snorkel" around the USS Arizona, an outing coordinated by the military.
The U.S. Navy confirmed the tour took place in a statement to ABC News. The tour was arranged for Patel by the U.S. Navy and included swimming near the wreckage of the USS Arizona, where 900 U.S. sailors and Marines died in the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941.
The FBI also did not disclose that Patel had returned to Hawaii for two additional days after his initial stopover on the island. The swim comes to light amid mounting criticism over Patel's use of the FBI plane and his global travel, which critics say has repeatedly blended professional responsibilities with leisure activities.
"Like a Bachelor Party at a Church" — Veteran's Reaction
A Marine veteran who watches over the hallowed site did not hold back in his reaction. "It's like having a bachelor party at a church. It's hallowed ground," he told the AP. "It needs to be treated with the solemnity it deserves."
No FBI director going back to at least 1993 has gone snorkeling at the memorial, according to those familiar with their activities and a former government diver who spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity. The diver said it was unusual for a director or anyone not connected to the memorial to be granted such access because the swims come with physical risks and present security, safety, and logistical challenges.
Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection — a network of former federal prosecutors and agents who advocate for the Justice Department's independence — stated: "It fits a pattern of Director Patel getting tangled up in unseemly distractions — this time at a site commemorating the second deadliest attack in U.S. history — instead of staying laser-focused on keeping Americans safe."
The FBI and Navy Defend the Snorkeling Trip
The White House stood by Patel, with spokesperson Steven Cheung stating: "Under President Trump and Director Patel's leadership at the FBI, crime across the country has plummeted to the lowest level in more than 100 years and many high-profile criminals have been put behind bars. Director Patel remains a critical player on the Administration's law and order team."
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson criticized the AP's characterization of the event as "stupid," describing it as a routine interagency engagement and "not a party." The Navy told the AP the outing was "not an anomaly" but declined to provide information about other such excursions.
Government emails obtained by the AP through a public records request show military officials coordinated logistics and personnel for the "VIP Snorkel." Among those afforded invitations to snorkel have been Navy admirals and secretaries of defense and interior, according to the former government diver, who said the swims were intended to provide officials with insights into the memorial and its operations.
A Pattern of Controversy: Patel's Record in Office
The Pearl Harbor snorkeling revelation is the latest in a string of controversies dogging Patel's tenure. After reportedly using agency jets for date nights with his girlfriend, Patel flew to the Milan Winter Olympics, officially citing a cybercrime investigation involving Italian authorities — but was filmed in the U.S. men's hockey team's locker room celebrating with alcoholic beverages. He also gifted 3D-printed replica pistols to New Zealand police and intelligence officials that turned out to be illegal to possess under local gun laws.
A week before the Pearl Harbor story broke, the public learned about Patel's personally branded liquor bottles. The same day, it was reported that the FBI had launched a highly controversial criminal leak investigation targeting a journalist at The Atlantic who wrote a deeply unflattering account of Patel — a story Patel called a "total farce" during a Senate hearing, adding that he has sued The Atlantic for $250 million in damages.
Kash Patel's Job Appears Increasingly in Jeopardy
It was just weeks ago when Politico reported that things "aren't looking great" for Patel, adding that he appears likely to be the next high-ranking official to exit the administration. This dovetailed with observations about how little the White House has done to defend Patel or even say his name out loud in the face of multiple controversies. The director began scrambling to save his job, but between the latest reporting and Saturday Night Live sketches lampooning Patel as a national joke, few in Washington were surprised by the continued drumbeat of damaging revelations.
