Kash Patel Bungles Another Serious Investigation

You’d think that if you were an FBI Director who already publicly and humiliatingly bungled (at least) two huge investigations—you would strive to avoid making the same mistake for a third time. But Kash Patel, the former far-right podcaster who’s never not botched his responsibilities, got ahead of himself again, and bragged about detaining a person of interest before anything was certain. 

On Saturday night, two students were killed and nine victims injured in a horrific mass shooting at Brown University. (In 2025 alone, there have been close to 400 mass shootings.) According to the Hill, the shooting occurred during the last period of classes, and in a final exam room. And Patel quickly bragged about detaining a person of interest before anything was certain. Just like he did with the September investigations into who killed Charlie Kirk; and the Halloween ones he did involving a planned terrorist attack in Michigan. (The latter posts were so premature, they alerted the suspects’ friends—who quickly made for an escape from the country.)

On Sunday afternoon, Patel tweeted: “Early this morning, FBI Boston’s Safe Streets Task Force, with assistance from [the United States Marshalls Service] & [a Coventry police department], detained a person of interest in a hotel room in Coventry, RI, based off a lead by [the Providence police department].” The suspect, identified as a 24-year-old decorated soldier, was released later that evening. 

Trump also had himself a little misinformation bonanza on Saturday (a day before Patel’s big bungle), posting to Truth Social a false claim that the suspect was “in custody.” Which wasn’t just false and misleading—but seriously dangerous. “Please do not believe Trump,” one student posted shortly thereafter, explaining they were at Brown University. “Stay inside.” (Trump eventually posted a retraction tweet, saying the suspect was “NOT” in custody.)

Speaking at the White House on Sunday, Trump said of the shooting, “ Things can happen.” Can’t really think of a worse thing to say.

According to Providence’s police chief, the first suspect had been detained because the FBI obtained a specific tip about him. But on Sunday, Attorney General Peter Naronha (D-R.I.) said, “It’s fair to say that there is no basis to consider him a person of interest…So that’s why he’s being released.” He continued, “I don’t want to get into all those things [about the investigation,] because obviously we have a murderer out there, frankly, and so we’re not going to give away the game plan,” he said, adding that investigations can “take time.” 

Patel and Trump could take a few notes from Naronha (or honestly, anyone with more than four brain cells.) But alas. In MAGA world, information, safety, and jobs well done are not nearly as much a priority as chest-beating and looking strong.

As of publishing, the suspect is still at large.