Kash Patel Demands Apology After False MS NOW Russia Report

FBI Director Kash Patel is demanding a formal apology from MS NOW after the network incorrectly reported that he had landed in Russia, a claim that was later retracted on air. Patel argued that the mistake went beyond a routine correction, calling it a failure of basic reporting standards and a slight against law enforcement more broadly.

In a post on X Thursday, Patel said the network relied on two anonymous sources to place him in Russia when he was actually in Virginia. He wrote that he had been at Liberty University honoring law enforcement when the report aired. Patel said the network’s error raised larger questions about credibility, particularly when it comes to coverage of the FBI and its work with state, local, and tribal law enforcement agencies.

He also said the fallout extended beyond his personal reputation. According to Patel, “Three apologies are owed: to this FBI, to the law enforcement community, and to the American People.” His comments framed the episode as more than a mistaken travel report, arguing that inaccurate coverage can undermine public trust in the officers and agents working in communities every day.

How the false report unfolded

The disputed report aired Wednesday during MS NOW’s breaking news coverage. Anchor Peter Alexander told viewers that Patel had “landed in Russia” for meetings. The report from justice correspondent Ken Dilanian cited two FBI sources and said there were concerns inside the bureau about Patel’s alleged visit to the Kremlin.

Not long after the segment aired, the FBI Rapid Response account on X pushed back publicly and mocked the network’s reporting, saying Patel was in Virginia attending a law enforcement appreciation event. The quick rebuttal drew attention to the discrepancy and intensified scrutiny of how the story had been vetted before it went on air.

Dilanian later returned to the air to correct the report. He told viewers that he had earlier said two sources informed him Patel had landed in Russia for a trip that had been discussed publicly. He then stated that the network had since learned Patel had not landed in Russia and remained in the United States.

Dilanian added that the FBI had not answered the network’s questions when it asked about Patel’s whereabouts. He also said the timing of any possible trip remained unclear. In closing the correction, he said the network regretted the error and was being transparent about fixing it.

Patel says correction was not enough

MS NOW did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. A spokesperson had previously pointed to the network’s on-air correction. Patel, however, made clear he does not believe that step alone resolves the issue.

His criticism centered on what he described as a straightforward verification breakdown. Patel argued that if a national network could not confirm his location before broadcasting it, viewers could reasonably question its reporting on more complex matters involving the FBI’s daily operations and public safety work.

The controversy also sparked speculation among some critics that the inaccurate report may have been tied to an effort to identify leakers within the FBI. An FBI official would neither confirm nor deny whether leadership had conducted such an operation, but told Fox News Digital that the two leakers involved would “likely” be identified as a result.

The same official added, “We are always hunting leakers.” That comment has only added another layer to a story that began as a false location report but has since expanded into a broader dispute over sourcing, verification, and media accountability.