A top Democrat has accused the FBI director of causing a delayed response to high-profile cases in the US due to his personal use of the agency's private jet.
Sen Dick Durbin, the top Democrat on the Senate Judiciary Committee, called for a probe into FBI Director Kash Patel over what he called "irresponsible joyriding" in the bureau's private aircraft.
He cited a whistleblower who alleged it slowed the FBI's response to Utah after conservative commentator Charlie Kirk was killed and Patel's trip to Italy, where he was seen celebrating with the men's USA hockey team after their Olympic win.
An FBI spokesperson disputed the allegations that Patel's travels in any way hindered investigations.
FBI spokesman Ben Williamson called the claims both "false" and "egregious" and said, "Durbin and whoever he's speaking to are full of it".
FBI directors are barred from flying commercial airlines due to security, and personal jet use has come under scrutiny under multiple administrations, both Republican and Democratic.
Durbin, a Democrat representing Illinois, cited a whistleblower report to his staff that chronicled that the FBI's shooting reconstruction team was delayed responding to Utah in September after Kirk was killed during an event on a college campus. Durbin said the team was halted for at least a day due to a pilot shortage that was allegedly caused by Patel traveling.
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