Kash Patel demands apology from MS NOW after false Russia report

FBI Director Kash Patel is demanding an apology from MS NOW after the network falsely reported that he had landed in Russia. Patel stated on X on Thursday that the network placed him in Russia based on two anonymous sources, while he was actually in Virginia honoring law enforcement at Liberty University. He characterized the incident as a basic verification failure and noted that the network was forced to correct its false report. Patel argued that the error undermines public trust in the network's reporting on law enforcement work, stating that if a network cannot confirm his location, it cannot be trusted to accurately report on the successes of the FBI and its partnerships with state, local, and tribal law enforcement.

The dispute centers on a breaking news segment aired on Wednesday by MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander, who reported that Patel had landed in Russia to attend meetings. The report was delivered by MS NOW justice correspondent Ken Dilanian, who cited two FBI sources and mentioned concerns within the agency regarding Patel's alleged visit to the Kremlin. Shortly after the report aired, the FBI Rapid Response X account mocked the network, pointing out that Patel was in Virginia for a law enforcement appreciation event. Dilanian subsequently issued an on-air correction, telling viewers that he had reported based on two sources who said Patel landed in Russia for a planned trip. He acknowledged that Patel did not land in Russia and remains in the United States, noting that the FBI did not answer their questions when asked. Dilanian stated that the timing of any potential trip remains unclear and expressed regret for the error, emphasizing the network's transparency when making mistakes.

Patel described the situation as bigger than a false story about him personally, asserting that law enforcement officers deserve accurate reporting while protecting communities. He said three apologies are owed: to the FBI, to the law enforcement community, and to the American people. MS NOW did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment, with a spokesperson previously pointing to the on-air correction. There has been speculation among critics that the false report was an effort to expose leakers within the FBI. An FBI official told Fox News Digital that leadership would neither confirm nor deny conducting such an operation but said the two leakers involved would likely be identified. The official stated, "We are always hunting leakers."