F.B.I. to investigate Times reporter after article on Patel’s girlfriend

The FBI has reportedly opened an investigation into a New York Times journalist following her report alleging that Director Kash Patel improperly utilized bureau resources to provide security and transportation for his girlfriend.

The FBI began investigating a New York Times reporter after she wrote about the bureau’s director, Kash Patel, using bureau personnel to provide his girlfriend with government security and transportation, according to a person briefed on the matter. https://t.co/nCc4KhrS1h pic.twitter.com/xXKSil1tqO

— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 22, 2026

The FBI began investigating a New York Times reporter after she wrote about the bureau’s director, Kash Patel, using bureau personnel to provide his girlfriend with government security and transportation, according to a person briefed on the matter.

The FBI has launched an investigation into a New York Times reporter shortly after she published an article detailing allegations of misconduct involving the bureau’s director, Kash Patel. According to a person briefed on the matter, the probe was initiated in response to her reporting that Patel utilized official bureau personnel to provide his girlfriend with government-funded security and transportation. The investigation raises significant concerns regarding the potential use of federal law enforcement agencies to target journalists who report on internal government affairs and the conduct of high-ranking officials.

The initial report by the Times alleged that Director Patel diverted agency resources for personal use, a claim that has sparked scrutiny over the ethical boundaries of his leadership. The source indicated that the investigation into the reporter followed the publication of these specific details, though the formal grounds for the bureau’s probe remain unclear. Advocates for press freedom have frequently warned that investigating journalists for their reporting can have a “chilling effect” on the media’s ability to hold government figures accountable.

As of Tuesday, the FBI has not publicly confirmed the existence of the investigation or commented on the specific allegations regarding Director Patel’s girlfriend. The New York Times has historically defended its journalists against government overreach, and this latest development is expected to intensify the debate over the protection of whistleblowers and the independence of the press. The situation remains developing as lawmakers and legal experts weigh the implications of using bureau resources to investigate a member of the media in direct relation to their coverage of the bureau’s own leadership.