{"id":32081,"date":"2025-09-13T12:03:59","date_gmt":"2025-09-13T12:03:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/investmentbankingrules.com\/?p=32081"},"modified":"2025-09-13T12:03:59","modified_gmt":"2025-09-13T12:03:59","slug":"kash-patels-false-start-on-charlie-kirk-killer-draws-scrutiny-but-fbi-nabbed-suspect-in-the-end","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/investmentbankingrules.com\/?p=32081","title":{"rendered":"Kash Patel\u2019s false start on Charlie Kirk killer draws scrutiny, but FBI nabbed suspect in the end"},"content":{"rendered":"

The FBI\u2019s success in apprehending Charlie Kirk\u2019s alleged assassin came one day after Director Kash Patel initially misreported that a suspect was in custody, a move that sparked consternation and criticism as the nation reeled over Kirk\u2019s violent death.
\nPatel\u2019s misstep during the fast-moving investigation was overshadowed Friday by the breakthrough news that a 22-year-old Utah man had been detained and will face charges for the deadly shooting. But the flaws during the whirlwind 33-hour manhunt did not go unnoticed.
\nPatel on Thursday announced \u2014 then quickly retracted \u2014 that authorities had detained the person responsible for killing Kirk.
\nFox News\u2019 Laura Ingraham responded \u2018unreal\u2019 to Patel\u2019s revelation that the gunman was still at large. Conservative activist Chris Rufo said Friday he was \u2018grateful\u2019 authorities arrested a suspect but that it was \u2018time for Republicans to reassess\u2019 whether Patel was fit for the job.<\/p>\n

\u2018He performed terribly in the last few days,\u2019 Rufo wrote on social media Friday, adding that he has been talking with conservative leaders who are questioning the FBI\u2019s leadership structure, which includes Patel, Deputy Director Dan Bongino, and, as of next week, Andrew Bailey, who is taking on the unprecedented role of FBI co-deputy director.
\nThe backlash began after Patel said Thursday that \u2018the subject for the horrific shooting today that took the life of Charlie Kirk is now in custody,\u2019 before saying less than two hours later that he had the wrong person.
\n\u2018The subject in custody has been released after an interrogation by law enforcement,\u2019 Patel said, adding the investigation was ongoing.<\/p>\n

At the same time that Patel said the killer had been caught, Utah law enforcement officials were giving a news conference saying the gunman was at large, leading social media users to convey confusion over the mixed messages.
\nThe blip during the manhunt for the person responsible for Kirk\u2019s killing also put a spotlight on Patel\u2019s and Bongino\u2019s apparent fixation on social media, a point that a lawsuit against Patel and the Department of Justice laid out in thorough detail days prior.
\nThe lawsuit was brought by three top FBI officials who alleged their constitutional rights were violated when they were fired without explanation. One of the fired officials said Patel and Bongino lamented the \u2018political capital\u2019 they had to spend to keep the official on the job, a reference to pressure Patel and Bongino were getting on social media about the official. Patel\u2019s and Bongino\u2019s actions were often dictated by social media comments, the lawsuit said.
\nAlso fueling the fire was a delayed news conference on Thursday that offered little new detail as the investigation was underway. Patel appeared at the news conference but did not speak. Upon announcing the suspect\u2019s arrest Friday morning, the FBI director gave remarks of gratitude to the agency, local law enforcement, the media and public for contributing to the arrest. Patel made clear that he had been directing the FBI behind the scenes during the past couple days.
\n\u2018Warroom\u2019 podcast host Steve Bannon, a former Trump adviser, said on his show that he didn\u2019t \u2018know why Kash Patel flew out there, thousands of miles\u2019 merely to thank people. Bannon suggested he wanted more details about the suspect and any possible accomplices.
\nAt this stage, the Trump administration has shown no outward signs of wavering on Patel. Fox News Digital reached out to the White House and the FBI for comment.<\/p>\n

The White House did not respond. One source familiar said Patel\u2019s social media posting during the Kirk case could have been handled better but that his initial erroneous message and the surrounding criticism of it came during the \u2018fog of war,\u2019 as the investigation was rapidly evolving and emotions were high. The source said the focus should be on the success of the FBI\u2019s operation and the \u2018good police work\u2019 involved.
\nA spokeswoman for Patel pointed to a statement she posted online highlighting that the FBI\u2019s mission to identify Kirk\u2019s assassin was a success and that Patel was intentional every step of the way.
\n\u2018Over these last few days, what has mattered isn\u2019t ignorant criticism or petty assumptions \u2014 it\u2019s been the pursuit of justice. Justice that was promised, justice that has now been delivered,\u2019 spokeswoman Erica Knight said.
\nOne retired FBI agent who worked at the bureau for two decades said Patel\u2019s premature post seemed \u2018reckless\u2019 and \u2018too quick to the draw,\u2019 but the retired agent also said he viewed it as a problem that went beyond Patel.
\n\u2018It\u2019s becoming a popularity contest,\u2019 the retired agent told Fox News Digital. \u2018It\u2019s not necessarily something that\u2019s new either, because J. Edgar Hoover was big about leveraging the press to make the FBI look good. I mean, he was notorious for that. That tradition in the bureau has continued, but now it\u2019s sort of like that on steroids.\u2019<\/p>\n

This post appeared first on FOX NEWS<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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