FBI Director Kash Patel is under fire for repeatedly botching public statements on high-profile cases, deepening distrust in the agency.

• Patel wrongly said a suspect was in custody hours after Charlie Kirk's assassination, then had to admit the man was released.
• He made similar reversals and posted evidence he wasn't supposed to release, including photos from an ICE facility shooting in Dallas.
• Critics say the FBI seems unwilling to share real information, pointing to unanswered questions about both the Kirk case and the Butler, Pennsylvania shooting.
• Former counterterrorism official Joe Kent claims he was blocked from investigating the Butler shooting despite possible ties to a foreign country.
• Patel is mocked for chasing a tough-guy image, from posting on X to demanding a custom FBI jacket.

Outlook: Expect more pressure on Patel and louder calls for the FBI to explain how it is handling these investigations.