Kash Patel has risked the wrath of voters after a video emerged on social media appearing to show the FBI director chugging a beer and partying with Team USA men's hockey stars at the Winter Olympics.
Patel - an amateur hockey player and avid fan - flew to Italy earlier this week on a government jet. His journey to Europe, which could cost taxpayers up to $75,000, sparked a backlash - despite the FBI insisting: 'It is not a personal trip.'
He was in the stands in Milan on Sunday as Mike Sullivan's team came from behind to beat their bitter rivals 2-1 in overtime - just days after the US women's team won gold in exactly the same fashion.
After the game, Patel paid tribute to the victorious US team and headed into the locker room to join in the celebrations.
A video, shared on social media by outlets including ProPublica and the Washington Post, appears to show Patel drinking and spraying a bottle of beer. He then bangs on a table and celebrates wildly before a gold medal is draped over his neck.
The FBI director had earlier posted pictures from inside the locker room. He posed alongside Sullivan and a number of players including Jack Hughes, who scored the goal that secured gold.
FBI director Kash Patel is pictured inside the locker room alongside Team USA hockey stars
Jack Hughes celebrates after scoring the goal that secured Team USA gold against Canada
Patel took pictures with a number of players after they secured Olympic glory in Milan
The photos and videos have sparked fury among many Americans, given the FBI's claims that this was a business trip. His journey to Italy also comes at a time when law enforcement is involved in a number of high-profile cases such as the search for Nancy Guthrie and the death of a gunman shot at Mar-a-Lago.
But Patel later posted on social media: 'For the very concerned media - yes, I love America and was extremely humbled when my friends, the newly minted Gold Medal winners on Team USA, invited me into the locker room to celebrate this historic moment with the boys- Greatest country on earth and greatest sport on earth.'
He had earlier written, alongside a selection of pictures of him enjoying the postgame party: 'Unity, Sacrifice, Attitude- what it takes to be the best in the world.
'These men live and breathe it. Now Team USA are gold medal champions, legends standing on the shoulders of giants. Thank you for representing the greatest country on earth, in the greatest game ever created.'
Amid the initial controversy over Patel's flight, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson insisted the director was on a business trip 'that was planned months ago.'
He said Patel had traveled for meetings with ambassadors, Italian law enforcement and US agents stationed at the Legat. He also noted that the bureau 'has a major role in Olympic security.'
A source familiar with the director's role told the Daily Mail that the FBI 'will be in charge of security completely for FIFA [World Cup] and the 2028 American Olympics.'
'So if you don't like to get blown up [at] major events, be grateful he is putting in this work now,' the source fumed.
Williamson insisted the flight is a business journey planned months in advance for the purposes of discussing security with international law enforcement arms. He called reports 'misleading' for saying the trip was made solely for the purpose of attending the Olympics.
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Patel is pictured in the stands at the Milano Santagiulia Ice Hockey Arena for Sunday's final
President Donald Trump called Team USA to congratulate the players on their Olympic victory
The historic goal from Hughes sparked bedlam in the arena in Milan on Sunday
Patel, who plays in a hockey league in Virginia and has coached youth hockey in the past, also watched the US triumph 6-2 over Slovakia on Friday night.
He has come under fire over the last year for using government aircraft for personal travel – including attending UFC fights and rodeos with his country music artist girlfriend Alexis Wilkins.
Patel has previously used the FBI plane, the operations of which are funded by taxpayer money, to attend hockey games.
Back in April, he turned up at a charity hockey event - hosted by the FBI - before sitting alongside Wayne Gretzky as Capitals star Alex Ovechkin broke the NHL scoring record.
It costs US taxpayers a minimum of $5,000 per flight hour when the FBI Gulfstream jet is in air, according to government account estimates for the aircraft. This means that Patel's trip could run taxpayers as much as $75,000, though actual cost could vary depending on multiple factors.
'Do we think taking the taxpayer jet is worth the FBI Director meeting with all of these law enforcement agencies to keep Americans safe?' the source familiar posed to the Daily Mail when asked about the cost of going to Italy.
President Donald Trump, meanwhile, phoned Team USA men's hockey stars after they beat rivals Canada to secure a first Winter Olympics gold medal in nearly half a century.
Sunday's clash in Milan captured the attention of fans on both sides of the border, including in the White House.
And after landing a first gold in men's hockey since 1980, Team USA received a congratulatory call from the President, who even reportedly invited the players to his State of the Union address on Tuesday.
Team USA's hockey stars enjoyed boozy celebrations inside the locker room after their win
'He just spoke to the group expressing how proud he was of the group and congratulating everybody on the win,' Sullivan revealed. 'Obviously this game in a lot of ways was an inspiration to our country.
'I can’t tell you how many texts I’ve received over the last day or so about watch parties at eight in the morning. I think from a viewership standpoint in the United States, there were a lot of people paying attention, the president included.'
Trump previously spoke to Team USA ahead of last year's 4 Nations final against Canada, when they lost to Canada amid heightened tensions between the two nations.
'We’re all proud Americans, obviously,' captain Auston Matthews said on Sunday. 'This is a huge moment for us. A huge moment for the United States. He called, just congratulated us.'
Matthews hinted that the team could visit the White House to celebrate their Winter Olympics victory. But with a blizzard back home - and the return of the NHL on Wednesday - that could prove tricky.
'I think there’s a lot of moving parts as far as our travels back home. We’ll see what happens,' Matthews said.
'It’s an honor to wear this jersey and to represent the US. To go home with a gold medal. You know how much that means to guys in this room, to people watching and rooting us on too.'
