FBI Director Patel Spent Eight Hours at White House Directing Leak Probe Into Times Reporters

The White House directed FBI Director Kash Patel to personally oversee a leak investigation into New York Times reporting about security issues with the new Air Force One, according to The New York Times. The probe culminated Friday night with a flurry of subpoenas issued to several Times reporters.

"The F.B.I. director spent about eight hours at the White House Friday focused on the effort, which led to the subpoenaing of several Times reporters"

Patel ran the investigation from the White House rather than from FBI headquarters, a significant break from historical practice. He also briefed senior administration officials on the progress of the probe, The New York Times reported.

The involvement of the White House in directly steering a federal investigation into reporters is highly unusual and has drawn scrutiny. Democratic Underground also noted the White House's role in directing the inquiry, echoing the initial New York Times report.

Democratic UndergroundWhite House Directed Patel to Oversee Investigation Involving Times Reporting

The leak investigation stems from Times articles that detailed security vulnerabilities in the new Air Force One aircraft. The subpoenas represent an aggressive step by the administration to uncover the source of the disclosures, raising concerns about press freedom and government overreach.