"The swim, revealed in government emails obtained by The Associated Press, comes to light amid criticism over Patel's use of the FBI plane and his global travel that has blended professional responsibilities with leisure activities. The FBI did not disclose the snorkeling session or that Patel had returned to Hawaii for two days after his initial stopover on the island."
"With few exceptions, snorkeling and diving are off-limits around the USS Arizona. The battleship, now a military cemetery reachable only by boat, has stood as one of the nation's most hallowed sites since Japan bombed and sank it in 1941. Marine archaeologists and crews from the National Park Service make occasional dives at the memorial to survey the condition of the wreck."
"The FBI took pains to note the director was not on vacation, highlighting his walking tour of the bureau's Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement. Left out of FBI's news releases was an exclusive excursion that Patel took days later when he participated in what government officials described as a "VIP snorkel" around the USS Arizona in an outing coordinated by the military."
""It fits a pattern of Director Patel getting tangled up in unseemly distractions - this time at a site commemorating the second deadliest attack in U.S. history - instead of staying laser-focused on keeping Americans safe," said Stacey Young, who founded Justice Connection, a network of former federal prosecutors and agents who advocate for the Department of Justice's independence."
Kash Patel visited Hawaii and the FBI publicized his walking tour of the Honolulu field office and meetings with local law enforcement. Days later, government emails show he participated in a military-coordinated “VIP snorkel” around the USS Arizona, a sunken battleship that entombs more than 900 sailors and Marines from the Pearl Harbor attack. The FBI did not include the snorkeling outing in its news releases and did not disclose that Patel returned to Hawaii for two additional days after his initial stop. The revelation comes amid criticism of Patel’s use of an FBI plane and extensive travel that mixes professional duties with leisure. Critics argue the activity was inappropriate for a highly commemorated military cemetery site.
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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