Trump Allies Accused of Orchestrating Leak Targeting FBI Director Kash Patel
WASHINGTON — A 115-page internal report criticizing FBI Director Kash Patel and his deputy Dan Bongino was leaked to the New York Post just days before its scheduled delivery to the House and Senate Judiciary Committees, raising questions among lawmakers, former officials, and political observers about whether the disclosure was strategically designed to pave the way for senior leadership changes inside the bureau.
The report, reportedly assembled by 29 insiders and external reviewers, outlines a series of internal concerns about morale, management failures, and inexperience at the top levels of the FBI. According to individuals familiar with the document, contributors described Patel as “in over his head,” unable to provide consistent direction, and presiding over an atmosphere characterized as “fear and paralysis.” Bongino, a former Secret Service agent and right-wing media figure, was criticized for lacking the career background typically expected of a bureau second-in-command.
While the substance of the document is significant on its own, the method and timing of its appearance prompted immediate scrutiny. The report was delivered exclusively to Miranda Devine, a columnist and podcaster at the New York Post, a publication frequently used in the past by former President Donald J. Trump to shape political narratives. Devine interviewed Trump only months earlier, and the relationship between the former president’s inner circle and the paper remains well-documented.
Several former Trump administration officials, speaking anonymously to avoid retaliation, suggested that the leak may reflect an internal recalibration within the Trump orbit—an attempt to create political cover to dismiss Patel without the appearance of direct intervention. Publicly, Trump maintained that he had “no plans” to replace Patel and asserted that the director was “doing a great job.” But insiders say such remarks are consistent with the former president’s tendency to deny personnel decisions until the moment they are executed.
Signs of tension surrounding Patel’s leadership have mounted for months. His widely criticized testimony before congressional committees in September drew bipartisan frustration, with Senator Cory Booker bluntly telling him: “I don’t think you’re going to be around long.” Patel has also faced scrutiny over his use of a government jet for personal travel, including trips involving his girlfriend, and for allegedly demanding special FBI tactical gear during a high-profile investigation.
Beyond Patel, the report also raises concerns about Bongino’s suitability for the role, highlighting what contributors described as an over-reliance on social media and public appearances. That critique has fueled speculation that the administration intends to elevate Andrew Bailey, the Missouri attorney general who recently joined the FBI as co-deputy director, and who maintains close ties to senior Justice Department leadership.
The Justice Department declined to comment on the leak or on personnel matters. A spokesman for Patel did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
As the report circulates on Capitol Hill, lawmakers from both parties are preparing for contentious hearings in December, where Patel is expected — though not guaranteed — to testify again. Several officials predicted that he may not remain in his post through the end of the year.
What remains unclear is whether the leak originated with individuals seeking to push out Patel, or with those hoping to preemptively defend him by painting internal critics as politically motivated. What is certain is that the disclosure has intensified scrutiny of the FBI’s top leadership and ignited another round of political infighting inside a government already strained by factional divisions.
