Kash Patel's Texts to FBI About Epstein Account Go Viral - Newsweek

Kash Patel asked FBI communications staff to respond to a social media account that mocked him online, according to newly released government records, but a senior bureau official rejected the idea, warning that doing so "would look bad on you."

The exchange appears in a February 5 text conversation between Patel and Ben Williamson, the FBI's assistant director for public affairs, contained in the latest tranche of records released by the government as part of its review of materials related to Jeffrey Epstein.

Messages show Patel pressing FBI staff to engage with a social media post that ridiculed him and encouraging them to respond with information about the bureau's accomplishments. Williamson, however, declined to carry out the request.

The FBI declined to comment when approached by Newsweek.

According to the released records, the dispute centered on an X account that had shared Patel's official portrait alongside a post mocking the FBI director. During the exchange, Williamson described the account as "an 'Epstein didn't kill himself' bot account" while discussing whether the FBI should respond.

Patel nevertheless argued that FBI communications staff should engage with the post and use it as an opportunity to highlight the bureau's performance.

"What I asked you and your team to do is find them, and post our record year results back at them all, continuously," Patel wrote, before asking whether his team had been doing so.

Williamson replied that they had not.

"We're not responding to 'ifindr------s.' That would look bad on you," he wrote.

Patel continued to press the issue, arguing that the account's audience made it worth addressing.

"Its not about them, it is about the number of views, because people see it and need to be seeing our stats," Patel responded.

Williamson also disputed Patel's characterization of the post's engagement, noting that the figure being discussed represented views rather than responses.

Alex Deane, a senior managing director at FTI Consulting who advises organizations and senior leaders on public affairs, reputation management and strategic communications, said Williamson's response reflected established communications practice.

"The director received good comms advice from his public affairs lead," Deane told Newsweek. "Officeholders and senior business figures have very little to gain from responding to anonymous online trolling.

"It's always understandable to want to respond to cutting words or misplaced criticism, but the right thing to do is to step back and ask: what happens next, and who wins?

"What happens next is yet more of the same hostility, to which you are now expected to respond because you did so before, and they win, because you've been dragged down to their level, and they're elevated so that, in this exchange at least, they're seen as being on a par with you. Good for Mr. Williamson for giving good counsel."

Ben Williamson serves as the FBI's assistant director for public affairs, making him one of the bureau's senior communications officials. In that role, he oversees public messaging and media relations for the agency.

Messages between Patel and Williamson provide a rare public example of a senior FBI official rejecting a proposal from the bureau's director and appear to show a disagreement over how the agency should handle online criticism.

The exchange surfaced as part of the latest release of records connected to the FBI's review of Epstein-related investigative holdings, which has generated scrutiny of internal communications involving senior bureau officials.

Patel became FBI director after being nominated by President Donald Trump and confirmed by the Senate. Since taking office, he has been a highly visible and often polarizing figure because of his previous work in the Trump administration and his outspoken criticism of what he has described as misconduct within federal law enforcement agencies.

While FBI directors are not polled as frequently as presidents or other elected officials, recent survey data suggests Patel is viewed unfavorably by more Americans than favorably.

A Quinnipiac University poll conducted from May 14 to 18 found that just 30 percent of registered voters approved of the way Patel was handling his job as FBI director, while 56 percent disapproved. Fourteen percent did not offer an opinion.

The survey also found Patel's approval rating lagged behind that of several other senior Trump administration officials, including Marco Rubio, who received a 40 percent approval rating, and JD Vance, who received 39 percent approval.

Update 9/11/26, 10:28 a.m. ET: This article was updated to include the FBI declined to comment.