World
Inside Kash Patel's Hawaii Trip: Secret VIP Snorkel Adventure At Pearl Harbor Revealed In Emails
FBI Director Kash Patel is facing fresh scrutiny after government emails revealed he took part in a “VIP snorkel” excursion around the USS Arizona memorial during a Hawaii trip last summer. The outing, coordinated by military officials, was not disclosed in FBI news releases detailing Patel’s visit to Honolulu.
According to emails obtained by The Associated Press through a public records request, Patel participated in the snorkeling session days after touring the FBI’s Honolulu field office and meeting with local law enforcement. The USS Arizona memorial at Pearl Harbor is considered one of America’s most sacred military sites, marking the resting place of more than 900 sailors and Marines killed during the 1941 attack.
The FBI did not publicly mention the snorkeling session or Patel’s return to Hawaii for two additional days after his initial stop in the state while traveling back from official visits to Australia and New Zealand.
Questions Raised Over ‘VIP Snorkel’
The AP report said snorkeling and diving around the USS Arizona are generally restricted, with access typically limited to marine archaeologists, National Park Service crews and select memorial-related activities. However, military officials acknowledged that certain dignitaries and senior officials have quietly been permitted similar excursions for years.
Military emails described Patel’s outing as a “VIP Snorkel,” with participants reportedly instructed not to touch the submerged battleship and briefed on the memorial’s historical significance.
Critics questioned whether the excursion was appropriate for an FBI director. Stacey Young, founder of Justice Connection, said the incident reflected “a pattern” of Patel becoming distracted by “unseemly” activities rather than focusing on national security responsibilities.
The Navy confirmed the snorkeling trip but said it could not determine who initiated the request. Officials also described the excursion as “not an anomaly.”
The controversy comes amid broader scrutiny of Patel’s travel and use of government resources during his tenure. Earlier this year, Patel defended another overseas trip after video surfaced showing him celebrating with members of the US men’s hockey team at the Winter Olympics in Milan.
Patel has not publicly commented on the Pearl Harbor outing.
