FBI under Kash Patel has become ‘internally paralyzed by fear’, new report reveals

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2025/dec/01/fbi-kash-patel-leaked-report

Leaked assessment based on confidential accounts from 24 FBI sources describes organization as a ‘rudderless ship’

The FBI director, Kash Patel, is “in over his head” and leading a “chronically under-performing” agency paralyzed by fear and plummeting morale, according to a scathing 115-page report compiled by a national alliance of retired and active-duty FBI special agents and analysts.

The leaked assessment, obtained by the New York Post and prepared for both congressional Senate and House judiciary committees, is based on confidential accounts from 24 FBI sources.

They accuse Patel of lacking the experience to lead the FBI and that managers will not take initiative without explicit direction for fear of being fired. Patel’s first six months have produced a “troubling picture” of an organization described by insiders as a “rudderless ship”, with two sources independently characterizing the director as being “in over his head”. One stated he “lacks the requisite knowledge or deep understanding of all the FBI’s unique and complex investigative and intelligence programs”.

464 points · 55 comments · view on lemmy.world

55 Comments

Zeppo@sh.itjust.works · 160 pts · 278d (6 replies)

Wow, that’s wild that a brainless podcaster whose main qualification was supporting a bunch of Trump conspiracy bullshit didn’t turn out to be really good at running the FBI

paper_moon@lemmy.world · 79 pts · 278d (2 replies)

"It's the FBI Michael, how hard could it be to run?"

Tyrq@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 30 pts · 278d

There's always intel in the banana stand

OldQWERTYbastard@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 278d

There are always redactions in the Epstein files.

Botzo@lemmy.world · 32 pts · 278d (2 replies)

Hey, you forgot his most important qualification: children's book author.

blargle@sh.itjust.works · 23 pts · 278d (1 reply)

vaultdweller013@sh.itjust.works · 4 pts · 277d

He looks like he would place a landmine under a door mat for the express purpose of selling g someone new legs.

d00phy@lemmy.world · 74 pts · 278d

And fuck every single one of the senators who voted to confirm him. They are a rubber stamp. Actually, that’s disrespectful to rubber stamps everywhere.

MrStankov@lemmy.world · 51 pts · 278d (2 replies)

The only thing worse than an incompetent fascist is a competent fascist, so I'll take this as good news. Imagine a J. Edgar Hoover version of the FBI right now. No thank you.

Quill7513@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 277d

(that's what homeland security is)

lechekaflan@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 277d

Hoover was an evil genius, however.

kikutwo@lemmy.world · 46 pts · 278d (4 replies)

Is the fear paralysis how they get the googlie eyes?

OldQWERTYbastard@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Dude always looks like he's halfway through shitting himself.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 277d

hes probably like those victorian people who used atropine drops on thier eyes, instead he uses liquid cocaine.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 277d

Viagra eyes, or he uses cocaine drops.

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 278d

I think you get those being on the internet all day

Thedogdrinkscoffee@lemmy.ca · 40 pts · 278d (3 replies)

What a shithole country.

OldQWERTYbastard@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 278d (2 replies)

I'm here and I'm ashamed of it.

gravitas_deficiency@sh.itjust.works · 7 pts · 278d

Same, fam. Same. :(

SabinStargem@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 277d

Scar would make for a better leader. Or most Disney villains, for that matter. They at least have some level of competency.

... 🤮

Whirling_Cloudburst@lemmy.world · 28 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Its a perfect time for foreign adversaries to turn agents.

flango@lemmy.eco.br · 28 pts · 278d

That was always the plan

AlphaOmega@lemmy.world · 24 pts · 277d (1 reply)

Everything is working exactly as it was planned. Putin must be so proud

Prior_Industry@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 277d

My first thought. Exactly as planned.

TriangleSpecialist@lemmy.world · 19 pts · 278d (1 reply)

He hides it really well. My man should play poker.

anomnom@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 277d

It good to know that the internal terror has caught up the the external terror that’s been on display since day one.

mrgoosmoos@lemmy.ca · 18 pts · 278d (1 reply)

poor lil guy

maybe he should get a real job

theneverfox@pawb.social · 3 pts · 277d

Well, pugs aren't really working dogs. Maybe someone could record him being derpy for tik tok or something?

GuyFawkesV@lemmy.world · 18 pts · 277d (2 replies)

Who’d’ve thought a dude that looked like that would give off “paralyzed by fear” vibes?

Crackhappy@lemmy.world · -1 pts · 277d (1 reply)

He's doing such a shitty job, I don't think ad hominem attacks are really necessary.

bobgobbler@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 277d

Yeah his entire existence is an attack on hominids

Fedizen@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 277d (1 reply)

One would argue this is why he was picked

GreenShimada@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 277d

I'm surprised HWMNBN has kept so many flunkies around for so long. He ran through senior staff goons faster than he runs through wives the first time around.

BruisedMoose@piefed.social · 16 pts · 278d

It's fine. The White House says:

Federal hiring, promotions, and performance reviews will reward individual initiative, skills, performance, and hard work

So there's no way he could be unqualified.

reddig33@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 278d

Who are they afraid of? Aren’t these supposed to be FBI agents?

asg101@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 13 pts · 277d

Fewer entrapments, false-flag operations and red squad operations? Fine by me.

AlecSadler@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 12 pts · 278d

Kash Patel can suck bubba dick

Mrselfdestruct25@lemmynsfw.com · 11 pts · 278d (7 replies)

He's wearing a cap that says FBI? What a loser.

gex@lemmy.world · 33 pts · 278d (2 replies)

He really loves FBI merch

On Sept. 11, 2025, the day after Kirk was assassinated, Patel flew into Provo, Utah, on the FBI jet but “would not disembark from the plane without an FBI raid jacket,"

zbyte64@awful.systems · 14 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Wow that's some arrested development.

meco03211@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 278d

He was worried about hop ons.

blargle@sh.itjust.works · 10 pts · 278d

velindora@lemmy.cafe · 6 pts · 278d

Tbf, I had a FED family member (way back) and I loved his FED merch as a kid. That’s before I knew acab… Now…. Eehhhh…. I’ll pass. The wallets are super cool though.

littlewonder@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 277d

He's just still really enthusiastic about his Female Body Inspector merch from a class trip to DC in middle school.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 277d

hes trying to get into VAHALLA.

kent_eh@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 277d (2 replies)

One stated he “lacks the requisite knowledg

That on its own is enough to disqualify him.

But, it seems lacking knowledge or understanding is a pre-requisite for being appointed by Trump.
It's the only wat Trump can pretend he is the smartest person in the room.

Quill7513@slrpnk.net · 4 pts · 277d

kakistocracy

Jax@sh.itjust.works · 0 pts · 277d

Great example of 'say the same thing enough times, eventually someone will believe you'. I this case, 'gubmint don't work'.

MrSulu@lemmy.ml · 9 pts · 277d

The guy is a buffoon, incapable of constructing logical arguments. People like that can only lead and rule with structured fear. They believe themselves correct and clever as a result of the flourishing "yes" culture.

Wilco@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 278d

Exactly as MAGA wants.

chilldrivenspade@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 276d
[ removed ]
FosterMolasses@leminal.space · 1 pts · 273d

Pathetic.

lechekaflan@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 277d

Punchable banchode.

Atelopus-zeteki@fedia.io · -6 pts · 278d (1 reply)

Why is the thumbnail Luigi? KP's image is in the guardian article.

logi@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 278d

Your client app is probavly broken.