FBI Director Kash Patel is facing growing calls to resign following reports that he dismissed a veteran official who exposed his use of a government aircraft for personal travel.

Patel Under Pressure After Jet Allegations

The controversy erupted after Bloomberg Law revealed that Patel took a Department of Justice-registered jet from Virginia to Pennsylvania on 25 October to attend a wrestling event where his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, performed the national anthem. The aircraft then reportedly flew to Nashville, where Wilkins lives.

Patel's public posts on X, showing him attending the event, appeared to confirm his presence. The revelation has prompted questions about whether the flight constituted a misuse of taxpayer resources.

Whistleblower's Firing Sparks Backlash

According to reports, Steven Palmer, a 27-year FBI veteran and head of the bureau's Critical Incident Response Group, was dismissed shortly after the jet story broke. His division oversees the FBI's fleet of aircraft.

Sources cited by Bloomberg Law said Palmer had raised internal concerns about the director's travel before being removed from his post. He is now the third person to leave that position since Patel became FBI director earlier this year.

Critics say the dismissal appears retaliatory and have called for an investigation into whether Palmer's firing violated whistleblower protection laws. Several current bureau officials told media outlets the decision had unsettled staff and...

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