Kash Patel, now serving as the FBI director, spoke at a Capitol hearing last month. The New York Times
Kash Patel and Dan Bongino now lead the FBI. But before taking control, both men spent years criticizing the agency. They accused it of wrongdoing and even pushed conspiracy theories. Now, they are telling agents to work hard and restore public trust. Many inside the FBI feel confused by the sudden change in tone.
This week, Mr. Patel emailed the bureau's 38,000 employees. He praised their work and said the FBI’s image has suffered in the eyes of Americans. He called for reforms and claimed “business as usual” will not continue. He did not mention that he once helped damage that same image.
Mr. Patel had made many claims against the bureau in the past. He said the FBI acted unfairly during the Russia investigation and falsely linked agents to the January 6 Capitol attack. Yet now, he is urging the same agents to rebuild the FBI’s name.
Mr. Bongino also sent an email. He promised not to bring his personal politics into his job. That promise shocked many. For years, Mr. Bongino had spoken out against Democrats. He gained a large following as a podcaster known for his loud opinions.
Some former agents are not buying it. Luke William Hunt, a former FBI agent and now a professor, said it’s hard to trust people who suddenly change their stance. He believes asking agents to ignore past behavior is unreasonable.
So far, Mr. Patel has not made clear what specific changes he plans to make. He has shifted some top positions, and some agents welcomed those moves. One big change was the appointment of Steven J. Jensen to lead the Washington office. Mr. Jensen played a key role in handling the January 6 attack.
Ironically, Mr. Patel had criticized the FBI’s tough stance on that same day. He even slammed efforts to track violence at school board meetings, which Mr. Jensen had helped lead. In a past book, Mr. Patel claimed the FBI unfairly labeled concerned parents as threats.
Now, in his email, Mr. Patel says he wants to return to the FBI he once admired. He praised agents who chase the truth and serve with honesty. These words sound a lot like what past FBI director Christopher Wray used to say.
Mr. Patel also spoke about agents building strong legal cases. But many remember how he questioned the Mar-a-Lago search. He had claimed it was wrong and called the judge biased. Yet, agents got the search warrant after Mr. Trump refused to return classified documents.
Trump’s allies have also claimed the January 6 defendants were treated unfairly. In reality, they had full legal rights and went through the court process like any defendant.
Mr. Patel often targeted the FBI’s 2016 Russia probe. That investigation, called Crossfire Hurricane, had real issues. But it was opened with good reasons. Even a special counsel report confirmed the FBI had a duty to look into the tip they received.
In the end, the FBI remains under pressure. Critics want answers. The new leaders want change. But many inside the agency are left wondering what comes next.
