FBI Director Kash Patel again tried to justify attending the Winter Olympics’ gold medal hockey game in February, where leaked footage showed him celebrating with Team USA.

Calling in to “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” on Wednesday, Patel attempted to frame his visit to Italy as a trip within the scope of his official duties as FBI director.

“We (FBI) were there for the Milan Olympics. The FBI was leading the security for 250,000 Americans that went to Milan for the Winter Olympics,” Patel said.

“...And I was fortunate enough to be there with the men’s hockey team and my friends on the team and celebrating something that hadn’t been done in what, 50 ― my math is terrible ― 50 some years,” he continued. “So, I was glad to be celebrating for America at a historic time, and I was glad that we were able to provide the security necessary to make sure our athletes and our American citizens that attended the Olympics could go there safely, and return safely and that’s our focus and that’s always gonna be our focus. I’ll always ignore the noise.”

Regardless of the original purpose for Patel’s visit, the backlash was swift when footage emerged showing Patel chugging beer with Team USA in their locker room.

Prior to becoming FBI director, Patel had criticized his predecessor, Christopher Wray, for using government planes for personal matters. In February, FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson responded to CBS News reporting that Patel had used a government jet for the trip.

“No, it’s not a personal trip. Director Patel is on a trip that was planned months ago. It includes: partner meetings with Italian law enforcement and security officials (they invited the Director last July), meeting with Ambassador Fertitta (as a follow-up to our law enforcement roundtable he hosted in January), meetings with Legat staff, and more,” Williamson wrote on X at the time.

“The FBI also has a major role in Olympic security – as we do with the World Cup, F1, and more – so we have a U.S. consulate briefing on Olympic security and current FBI posture, as well as thanking FBI personnel on the ground,” the statement continued.

Listen to Patel’s full interview on “The Clay Travis & Buck Sexton Show” here:

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