Patel touts fraud enforcement wins as FBI director

FBI Director Kash Patel touted the agency's record of recovering fraud over the last two years of his leadership in the agency. Testifying before lawmakers on Tuesday, Patel cited the arrest of six individuals over the past three months connected to more than $2 billion in fraud schemes. The U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee held its second oversight hearing of the FBI on Tuesday. Lawmakers praised and grilled Patel on numerous issues including fraud prosecutions, personal travel and expenses, and election operations. Patel said the FBI's fraud enforcement operations have focused on prosecuting federal program fraud alongside Vice President JD Vance's Anti-Fraud Task Force and pursuing call center fraud schemes. The director said call center fraud is an issue "no one really ever thinks about." FBI agents established operations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia where many call centers are located to identify high-traffic fraud areas and end operations at the centers. Patel said these prosecutions have led to more than $17 billion in crypto and cash fraud prosecutions. He also said the FBI has sought a more proactive approach in its prosecutions of fraud. "We've prevented $1 billion in fraud from Americans before they were victimized by these scam centers," Patel said. "We're going to continue that work." Sen. Eric Schmitt, R-Mo., praised Patel's work in going after fraud throughout the country and highlighted examples from his home state. He highlighted the director's involvement in barring individuals connected to $39 billion in COVID-19 pandemic relief fraud from obtaining future government loans, which was announced on Monday. "I want to thank you for your redirection and the change of focus here at the bureau from the overt and historical weaponization we saw under the prior administration to real focus on law and order and putting the bad guys in jail," Schmitt said. "There are a lot of fraudsters who took advantage of the American people and these are not victimless crimes." Sen. Katie Britt, R-Ala., who is chair of the Senate's Anti-Fraud Task Force, said she supports Patel's efforts to go after fraud schemes across the country and called on lawmakers to codify efforts to pursue fraud in Congress. "I think stiffer penalties should be codified and I know that the anti-fraud division that's being led and it's a priority for this administration," Britt said. "Regardless of who is president 20 years from now, 10 years from now, I think that's just an important thing." Other senators on the panel criticized Patel's record as FBI director and engaged in shouting matches with him. Sen. Mazie Hirono, D-Hawaii, asked whether Patel would provide records of his travel as FBI director, citing a trip to Italy that he took during the Winter Olympics. "You have wasted untold taxpayer dollars driving around in foreign luxury cars, partying in Italy and flying a private jet to play golf and watch hockey," Hirono said. Patel defended his travel record as FBI director, saying he has taken the least amount of vacation days and has the highest rate of engagements during business days compared to previous directors. He pointed to his decision to move FBI flight operations to Andrews Air Force Base, instead of Reagan National Airport, estimating the move saved taxpayers $3.5 million. "The fact remains that I am the most present, hardworking FBI director," Patel said. "When you capture six of the most wanted fraudsters in the world who fleeced Americans of $2 billion on four separate continents, that's making America the most safe it's ever been." Senators also grilled Patel on whether he would deploy FBI agents to monitor activity in polling places across the country ahead of the midterm elections. Sen. Alex Padilla, D-Calif., pointed to the FBI's January raid of an election office in Fulton County, Georgia, as evidence of voter suppression and intimidation. "The Department of Justice, pursuant to a long-standing policy of not interfering in elections, refrain from engaging in 'Overt criminal investigative measures in matters involving alleged valid fraud until the election in question has been concluded, its results certified, and all recount and election contests concluded,'" Padilla said. Patel affirmed the FBI would follow the law and not involve itself improperly in the business of conducting elections. However, he pointed out that the FBI would continue to keep agents in places across the country to monitor usual business practices, which in some cases includes elections. "The FBI has an election consular coordinator in every single field office where we quarterback these election activities from," Patel said. "We'll continue to do that. We're going to house our agents and intel analysts in our field offices for election security."