FBI Director did not come to Russia: agency denied media reports

The US Federal Bureau of Investigation denied reports that its director Kash Patel had arrived in Moscow for talks with Russian intelligence services. The agency stated that on October 14 the FBI chief was in the US state of Virginia, not in Russia.

This was reported by Polish outlet RMF24 citing an official FBI statement on social network X.

Earlier, American TV channel MS NOW, citing two sources, reported that Patel allegedly arrived in Russia for a two-day visit. It was claimed that he was to hold talks with representatives of the Russian Federal Security Service in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

However, the FBI released a video refuting this information. The footage shows Patel attending an event at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia.

"Here is where Kash Patel actually is — at Liberty University, at an event honoring law enforcement officers," — reads the agency's statement.

The FBI Director's presence in Virginia was also confirmed by video footage from a local TV channel that is part of the ABC News network.

Patel himself reacted to the spread of information about a supposed visit to Moscow. Commenting on the denial, he wrote: "Facts matter more than clickbait."

Reports about a possible trip by the FBI chief to Russia appeared back in the summer. In July, Politico, citing sources, reported that Patel was considering a visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg on October 14–15. The host was presumably to be Russia's FSB.

Against the backdrop of these reports, Democratic congressmen Jamie Raskin and Jim Himes urged the FBI Director to cancel the trip. The lawmakers warned of possible risks to US national security in contacts with Russian intelligence services.

On the morning of October 14, Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov refused to comment on Patel's alleged visit, saying that trips by heads of foreign intelligence services are usually not announced.

After MS NOW's reports appeared, a number of international media outlets, including Rai News, spread information about the American official's arrival in Russia. However, the official FBI statement and video footage from Virginia refuted those claims.

Earlier, "Kurs Ukrainy" also reported Patel's alleged arrival in Moscow. This information was not confirmed. There is no reliable information about any talks between the FBI chief and Russian intelligence services.

Based on materials from: FBI, RMF24, CNN Greece.