The FBIis looking for a new private jet, which will not only serve the bureau’s top Critical Incident Response Group, but also be used for “executive travel” by the FBI DirectorKash Patel and Attorney General Pam Bondi.
However, following a report released on Wednesday byThe Independentregarding the planned acquisition, a representative from Bondi has stated that the AG is opposed to the purchase and wishes to have no involvement in it.
“The FBI maintains a separate acquisition procedure for the director and their agents,” Department of Justice spokesperson Gates McGavick stated.The IndependentNeither the attorney general nor other leaders within the DOJ were aware of this and do not believe it is necessary for use in Main Justice.
“The Main Justice” is the informal term used for the headquarters of the Department of Justice.
A Department of Justice official stated that Bondi wants the FBI’s request for proposals to be canceled, and she is satisfied with her current travel plans.
At the same time, an FBI representative statedThe Independentthat acquiring a new jet could ultimately save money for taxpayers.
The aircraft in question is used for essential functions including hostage rescue team operations, international missions, SWAT activities, and other matters related to national security — however, the current leasing arrangement is excessively costly,” the spokesperson stated. “Similar to how we handled other assets, such as relocating the headquarters building, the FBI is reviewing potential options to more effectively serve the American public with significantly reduced and more efficient costs for taxpayers.
The ultra-long-range executive jet is designed to transport agents and other agency staff to remote international destinations forcounterterrorism response”high-risk operations,” and other “sensitive missions,” as stated in procurement documents examined byThe Independent. Alongside the government’s request for proposals, a related statement of objectivesstates that the aircraft “will also meet executive transportation needs for the FBI Director and the U.S. Attorney General,” specifically Patel and Bondi.
The federal government is seeking an aircraft capable of flying at speeds of Mach 0.83 or greater, with Mach 0.85 specified in the RFP as the “preferred” option. According to the RFP, the plane must have a minimum range of 7,000 nautical miles and be able to accommodate at least 12 passengers, three crew members, and 1,000 pounds of cargo.
That implies the government requires something similar to aGulfstream G800, which accommodates 19 passengers and can fly 7,000 nautical miles at a speed of Mach 0.90, or aBombardier Global 8000, which accommodates 19 passengers and has a range of 8,000 nautical miles at Mach 0.94.
No pricing information is provided in the solicitation documents, but the G800 has a starting price of approximately $72.5 million, while the base version of the Global 8000 is priced around $78 million. The FBI spent $2.4 million to rent a Gulfstream V for six months in 2016, following a procurement process that had several issues.according to an auditthe subsequent year by the DOJ’s Office of the Inspector General.
In May, Patel told legislatorsthat the FBI was exceeding its budget and had a deficit of $1 billion. The 45-year-old Las Vegas resident has faced criticism in recent months for his apparent extensive use of the FBI’s private jet fleet for personal travel. Government officials are obligated to pay back the cost of any flights—using commercial coach prices—that are not related to official duties.
It has been reported that Patel utilized government planes to travel to Nashville, Tennessee, where his country music girlfriend resides, to attend hockey matches in New York City, to visit Las Vegas, and to watch at least one UFC event in Miami, where he was seated near the ring alongside President Trump.
In May, Senate Democrats asked the U.S. Government Accountability Office to investigate Patel’s use of government aircraft, which he is obligated to do, while simultaneously causing them to be inaccessible for FBI emergencies.
“Those planes were acquired or rented specifically to assist with operational requirements,” former FBI counterterrorism official Christopher O’Learytold CBS Newsin April. “The worry is that regularly using them by the director and deputy director for personal trips might remove a crucial resource from service when it’s often required at a moment’s notice.”
Craig Holman, an expert in governmental ethics and campaign finance, works for a watchdog non-profit based in Washington, D.C.Public Citizen, says the spending indicates the Trump team acting against itsrelentless claims of “cost-efficiency.”
“An administration aiming to create an appearance of reducing waste, fraud, and abuse in government spending certainly shows no hesitation when it comes to splurging on costly new jets and other luxuries for itself,” Holman stated.The Independent… Meanwhile, the government is reducing funding for healthcare, education, and workplace safety for the majority of people.
Since Trump returned to the White House in January, the administration hasdecimated school lunch programs, sent millions tumblingMedicaidand implemented tax reductions that willincrease earnings for the affluentwhile increasing taxes on working Americans, experts say.
Prior to becoming the FBI director, Patel criticized former FBI Director Christopher Wray for utilizing bureau planes for personal travel, stating on his podcast that Wray’s flights should be “stopped.” (Wray mentioned he repaid the government for all personal use.)
Bondi and Patel had a conflict earlier this year regarding the so-called Epstein files, which are FBI records connected to the agency’s inquiry into the infamous sex offender, whose connections to the wealthy and celebrity community, including Donald Trump, have become widely recognized.
“Dear Director Patel, Prior to your taking office, I requested the complete and detailed files concerning Jeffrey Epstein,” Bondisent in a letter on February 27Earlier yesterday, I was informed by a source that the FBI Field Office in New York had thousands of pages of documents concerning the investigation and indictment of Epstein. Even after my repeated inquiries, the FBI never revealed the existence of these files.
The documents remain unreleased, as Bondi recently stated that Epstein’s highly anticipated “client list,” which she previously claimed was “on her desk” and prepared for public release, actually did not exist.
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