The media is split over how to cover FBI Director Kash Patel’s handling of the Charlie Kirk assassination investigation. ABC News cast Patel as reckless, citing his premature statement that a suspect was in custody:
“Hours after the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, FBI Director Kash Patel declared online that ‘the subject’ in the killing was in custody. The shooter was not.”
Critics, including former FBI officials, called it a damaging misstep that fueled public confusion.
But another picture emerges from Just the News, where law enforcement experts praised Patel’s unorthodox choice to override hesitation inside the bureau and release security photos of the shooter early:
“Piehota and other law enforcement experts credited FBI Director Kash Patel’s insistence to release security footage photos of the alleged killer — well before police had an inkling of his identity — as the linchpin that harnessed the power of public crowd-sourcing to solve the case.”
That decision led to a stunning turnaround. Within 33 hours of Kirk’s killing, the suspect, Tyler Robinson, was in custody. Retired FBI Executive Assistant Director Chris Piehota called the pace “remarkable”:
“This tragedy was not part of a scripted, one-hour TV crime show, yet was brought to a logical conclusion within a 48-hour time period.”
The contrast with another recent high-profile shooting is striking. When UnitedHealth Group CEO Brian Thompson was assassinated in Manhattan late last year, it took authorities five days under the Biden administration to capture Luigi Mangione, the gunman. By comparison, Patel’s FBI oversaw Robinson’s capture in just over a day.
The debate over Patel’s judgment underscores the tension inside the FBI itself. Some argue the photo release proved crowd-sourcing can accelerate justice; others believe Patel’s public misstep undermined trust.
Patel tweeted several tweets defending himself against the criticisms.
A viral post captured Patel’s own framing of events, which the FBI Director as retweeted:
In the end, ABC highlights Patel’s missteps while Just the News emphasizes his calls. Whether the director’s actions inspire confidence or raise new doubts is a judgment the public, and Congress at this week’s hearings, will have to make.
CLICK HERE FOR FULL VERSION OF THIS STORY