'We don't pay for VIP snorkeling': Jamie Raskin accuses Kash Patel of misusing taxpayer funds
The ranking member of the House Judiciary Committee, Jamie Raskin, claims there is evidence taxpayers are footing the bill for FBI Director Patel's personal travel, citing a letter from Sen. Grassley seeking information on the bureau's spending. The FBI denies the allegations. pic.twitter.com/xivZRrgaaK
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) July 10, 2026
WASHINGTON, DC: Rep Jamie Raskin accused FBI Director Kash Patel of misusing taxpayer funds for luxury recreational travel, declaring that Americans "don't pay for VIP snorkeling" or jet skiing.
The Maryland Democrat said "all the evidence" available indicated taxpayer money was being used for personal perks. He also pointed to growing bipartisan demands for answers over Patel's travel expenses, saying lawmakers were seeking a full accounting of the costs.
Jamie Raskin alleges Kash Patel used taxpayer funds for personal travel
Raskin made the accusations Thursday, July 9, during an appearance on CNN's 'Anderson Cooper 360,' where host Anderson Cooper asked how confident he was that Sen Chuck Grassley would pursue questions about who was paying for Patel's personal travel.
"We've been demanding answers to this set of problems for several months," Raskin said. "All the evidence that we have indicates that, the taxpayers are footing the bill for junkets and splurges, and special recreational experiences for the FBI director."
Rep Jamie Raskin spoke with reporters at the Capitol in Washington, DC, on February 10, 2026 (Heather Diehl/Getty Images)Raskin argued that scrutiny had widened beyond Democratic critics of Patel, pointing to Grassley, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, as well as Sen Dick Durbin, the panel's ranking member.
"And now we know that there is serious bipartisan concern," Raskin said, adding that Grassley was "demanding answers."
He said Durbin had also written a letter with him Thursday "demanding an accounting." According to Raskin, Grassley had previously sent a letter on May 6.
Jamie Raskin questions Kash Patel's Milan hockey trip
Raskin acknowledged that the FBI director is supposed to travel on an official plane even when taking a personal trip, but argued that Patel should personally cover costs tied to recreational travel.
"But it seems pretty clear to the whole world that that was a personal recreational trip when he went out to see his beloved, American Olympic hockey team play," Raskin said.
The congressman pointed to Patel's conduct during the trip, saying, "we saw him chugging the beers and partying with the boys."
Raskin then drew a direct comparison between the cost of the Milan trip and Patel's discussion of grounding an airplane used by the FBI director for official business.
"The FBI director used on official business for $15,000, that trip to Milan cost more than $100,000," Raskin said.
He argued Patel should reimburse taxpayers for the expense.
"So we want to make sure that he has written a check to the taxpayers to reimburse us for that," Raskin said.
Jamie Raskin says taxpayers should not fund VIP snorkeling or jet skiing
Raskin sharpened his criticism by listing recreational activities he said taxpayers should not be covering.
"Because we don't pay for VIP snorkeling. We don't pay for jet skiing," he said. "We're not paying for luxury travel. That's not what we're in it for."
The Democrat also argued that the dispute was pulling attention away from the bureau's core responsibilities, describing the spending controversy as "obviously a massive diversion and distraction from the real work of the FBI."
Raskin's demand for reimbursement came as he pointed to pressure from both sides of the aisle, with Grassley seeking answers and Raskin and Durbin demanding an accounting of the travel expenses.
