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FBI Director Lashes Out as Troll Account Fuels Epstein Backlash
Kash Patel pressed FBI public affairs to answer a mocking X post with bureau statistics, but his spokesman said the move would make him look worse.
- Newly released government records from a February 5 text exchange show FBI Director Kash Patel ordered staff to respond to a critical X account that mocked him, demanding the bureau counter with his 'record year' statistics.
- Ben Williamson, the FBI's assistant director for public affairs, rejected the order, identifying the account as an 'Epstein didn't kill himself' bot account and warning that engaging would 'look bad on you.'
- Patel fixated on the post's 277,000 views, insisting they were not bots and demanding staff post accomplishments 'continuously,' while Williamson corrected him by noting the post had received only around 400 responses.
- The revelations triggered online ridicule, with writer Josh Billinson joking that he assumed Patel would have explained the situation to a junior staffer rather than issuing the order himself, while Democratic strategist Jesse Lee questioned his priorities.
- Patel's stewardship of the FBI has faced months of scrutiny, with his approval rating dropping to 30 percent among registered voters, leading critics to argue the texts exemplify a pattern of using bureau resources to combat personal criticism.
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FBI Records Show Kash Patel Ordered Staff To Fight Epstein Criticism on X After Troll '@Ifindretards' Mocked Him
Newly released FBI messages show Director Kash Patel urged his communications team to promote the bureau's crime statistics in response to online criticism linked to the Epstein files.
·United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources12
Leaning Left5Leaning Right3Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution50% Left
Bias Distribution
- 50% of the sources lean Left
50% Left
L 50%
C 20%
R 30%
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