Overview
- Viral videos show Patel in Team USA’s locker room after the gold-medal win over Canada, drinking, wearing a medal and leading a speakerphone call in which President Trump congratulated players and discussed a White House invitation.
- FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson says the trip was planned months in advance for meetings with Italian law enforcement and a U.S. consulate briefing on Olympic security, adding that any personal portion will be reimbursed.
- The footage fueled criticism from the public and Democrats, who cite an existing House inquiry into Patel’s use of FBI resources and raise concerns about taxpayer-funded travel.
- Questions about judgment intensified as Patel’s official account announced the FBI’s response to the fatal Mar-a-Lago intrusion during the game, alongside other high-profile security and investigative demands at home.
- No disclosure of reimbursement details or any administrative action has been reported, and the congressional scrutiny of Patel’s travel practices remains open.