FBI Director Patel Ordered Staff to Counter Social Media Critics

FBI Director Kash Patel instructed his public affairs team to respond to social media criticism by posting the bureau's crime statistics, according to text messages released under the Freedom of Information Act. The exchange, uncovered by journalist Seth Hettena, shows Patel directing his assistant director for public affairs, Ben Williamson, to engage with an X account that had mocked him. The texts, dated February 5, reveal Patel sent Williamson a link to a post from an account named "IfindRetards." The post featured Patel's official portrait with a caption mocking him. Williamson identified the account to Patel as an "Epstein didn't kill himself bot account," referencing ongoing criticism related to the FBI's handling of Jeffrey Epstein files. Patel, however, fixated on the post's reach. "277k responses are not bots," he wrote. "What I asked you and your team to do is find them, and post our record year results back at them all, continuously." He questioned whether his communications staff had followed his instructions. Williamson corrected Patel's understanding of the engagement metrics. "That's views its 400 responses," he explained.