FBI Director Patel Was in Virginia, Not Russia

The FBI director Kash Patel was in Virginia on October 14, not Russia, and correspondent Ken Dilanian corrected his report that Patel had landed in Russia for a planned visit. Dilanian said Patel remained in the United States and that the network regretted the error. The FBI said Patel was attending a law-enforcement appreciation event at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia. Images shared by the agency and video from a local television affiliate showed Patel at the event that day, corroborating his location. Dilanian’s initial report, attributed to two unnamed sources, said Patel had landed in Russia for a two-day visit involving meetings in Moscow and St. Petersburg hosted by Russia’s Federal Security Service, or FSB. During an on-air correction later on October 14, he said Patel had not landed in Russia and remained in the United States. He also said the FBI had not answered questions before the initial report aired. The correction addressed the claim that Patel had already arrived in Russia on October 14. Dilanian said the timing of any potential trip remained unclear.