A high-ranking government official’s recreational excursion in the South Pacific has sparked a firestorm of criticism after it was revealed that FBI Director Kash Patel was escorted by U.S. Navy SEALs for a “VIP snorkel” in the waters surrounding the USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii.
The excursion, which took place last summer, saw Patel and nine other guests transported by two Navy boats to swim in the immediate vicinity of one of the military’s most sacred sites. The USS Arizona serves as the underwater tomb for more than 900 Navy sailors and Marines who perished during the attack on Pearl Harbor. According to Navy records, Patel remained in the water near the tomb for approximately 30 minutes.
The incident has drawn sharp condemnation from military historians and veterans, who argue that the act violates the solemnity of a war grave. For most visitors, the memorial maintains strict protocols that prohibit even the wearing of swimwear at the site. Access to the water is typically reserved for National Park Service divers conducting maintenance or interring the remains of the last surviving Arizona crew members.
The revelation of the snorkel trip is part of a broader pattern of scrutiny regarding Director Patel’s use of government resources, including the blending of official business with luxury leisure travel and the provision of extensive security details for his partner, Alexis Wilkins.
A Breach of Sacred Protocol
The use of elite special operations forces to facilitate a recreational swim at a site of such historical gravity has been described as “horrifying” by those familiar with military tradition. William M. McBride, a Navy veteran and professor emeritus of history at the U.S. Naval Academy, noted that the site carries the same legal and moral status as Arlington National Cemetery.
“Snorkelling around Arizona is as disrespectful as playing kickball on top of the graves at Arlington,” McBride said, emphasizing that the site is, a war grave.
While the Navy and Department of Defense have stated that VIP tours near the Arizona are not uncommon, they have declined to specify how frequently such tours include snorkeling. The FBI has attributed the invitation to Admiral Samuel J. Paparo Jr., head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. However, the identity of the nine other individuals who joined Patel on the excursion remains undisclosed.
Government Assets and ‘VIP’ Access
The Pearl Harbor trip was the culmination of an itinerary that included visits to FBI facilities in Hawaii, Australia, and New Zealand. However, internal records and flight logs suggest a recurring theme of luxury side-trips funded or facilitated by the government.
One such instance occurred on May 10 of last year, when Patel and Wilkins traveled from Washington to Philadelphia via a government Gulfstream V jet to attend a concert featuring George Strait and Chris Stapleton. The couple viewed the performance from a private suite at Lincoln Financial Field—accommodations that typically rent for between $35,000 and $50,000 for high-demand events. The flight crew and security detail remained on standby, collecting overtime pay, until the couple returned to Virginia after 11 p.m.
This lifestyle stands in stark contrast to Patel’s own previous criticisms of his predecessor, Christopher Wray. In 2023, Patel publicly questioned Wray’s use of government aircraft for private travel, suggesting at one point that the planes should be grounded.
The FBI has defended these travels, noting that the Director is required to use government aircraft for all travel and must reimburse the government for private trips at the cost of economy fares. The agency maintains that Patel has complied with these reimbursement policies.
The Cost of Private Security
Beyond travel, the Director has faced bipartisan criticism for the security arrangements provided to Alexis Wilkins. Patel has directed agents from various field offices to provide Wilkins with a full-time SWAT team security detail for her personal travels and daily errands in Nashville, Tennessee.
The detail reportedly consists of four SWAT agents and two SUVs. A former senior official familiar with such operations estimated the annual cost of this specific detail to be approximately $1 million, excluding additional overtime and vehicle expenses.
| Resource | Detail/Cost | Context |
|---|---|---|
| Wilkins Security | ~$1 Million/Year | 4 SWAT agents, 2 SUVs in Nashville |
| Philly Concert Suite | $35,000 – $50,000 | Private suite at Lincoln Financial Field |
| USS Arizona Trip | Navy SEAL Escort | “VIP Snorkel” near war grave |
Acting Attorney-General Todd Blanche and the Justice Department have defended the security measures, citing “constant, serious threats” against Wilkins. However, former FBI agents have pointed out that such an extensive detail for a non-government spouse is unprecedented in the agency’s history.
Internal Friction and Agency Exodus
These controversies coincide with a period of significant instability within the FBI. Patel’s tenure has been marked by the removal of agents deemed insufficiently loyal, leading to a wave of resignations and retirements across several major field offices, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, and Phoenix.
Current and former employees have described the atmosphere as one of fear and distraction. Some agents have characterized the focus on VIP perks and personal security as a breach of ethics that undermines the agency’s mission to combat domestic and foreign threats.
Patel has responded to these internal leaks with aggression, utilizing polygraphs to identify whistleblowers and filing a $250 million defamation lawsuit against The Atlantic over reporting regarding his personal conduct and national security readiness.
The Director continues to maintain that his actions are within his authority. During a recent Senate hearing, Patel presented statistics claiming credit for declining urban murder rates—figures that some FBI agents noted are primarily the result of local and state police efforts rather than federal intervention.
As the Justice Department continues to review the legality of the security details and the use of government assets, the FBI remains under intense scrutiny from both ends of the political spectrum. The next confirmed checkpoint will be the upcoming series of oversight hearings where the Director is expected to face further questioning regarding agency expenditures and personnel purges.
We invite our readers to share their perspectives on the balance between security and ethics in high-level government appointments in the comments below.
