FBI Director Kash Patel said he did not regret announcing that a person was taken into custody following the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk before reversing course shortly thereafter to say the individual had been released.
Last Wednesday evening, hours after the fatal shooting at Utah Valley University and as authorities conducted a manhunt for the suspect, Patel posted on social media platform X that a “subject” had been apprehended.
Less than two hours later, the FBI director said the person had been released — a clear signal law enforcement had not apprehended the correct person.
The incident came after other confusion earlier in the day when local authorities said a different person of interest had been taken into custody; that individual was taken into custody on suspicion of obstruction but was later released.
The FBI is often hesitant to offer details during investigations, typically offering limited updates about its work, but Patel on Monday framed the disclosure as a transparency effort.
“I was being transparent with working with the public on our findings as I had them, I stated in that message that we had a subject and that we were going to interview him, and we did, and he was released,” Patel said during an appearance on “Fox and Friends.”
Patel went on to say the FBI is tasked with running down all leads while acknowledging he could have handled the update differently.
“Could I have worded it a little better in the heat of the moment, sure, but do I regret putting it out? Absolutely not. I was telling the world what the FBI was doing as we were doing, and I’m continuing to do that. And I challenge anyone out there to find a director that has been more transparent,” Patel said.
The FBI director is slated to appear for two days of congressional testimony starting Tuesday.
Authorities announced Friday the arrest of 22-year-old Tyler Robinson, charging him with aggravated murder and other charges over the fatal shooting of Kirk. Robinson is expected to make his first court appearance Tuesday.
