US Democrats call on FBI Director Kash Patel to cancel upcoming trip to Russia
In the letter, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Jim Himes urged the FBI director to cancel the visit, citing “urgent national security concerns,” including the FSB's history of conducting espionage operations against American officials.
Two prominent House Democrats, Rep. Jamie Raskin and Rep. Jim Himes, have urged FBI Director Kash Patel to cancel an upcoming trip to Russia, expressing "urgent national security concerns." The letter, sent on October 9, cited Russia's history of espionage against American officials and the country's aggressive actions including war crimes, election interference, cyberattacks, and support for adversaries targeting U.S. soldiers.
The Democrats, who consider Russia a hostile foreign power, questioned the logic behind Patel's visit, given these issues and the timing of the trip in relation to recent sanctions bills against Russia. The letter also highlighted Patel's apparent shift towards closer ties with Moscow since becoming FBI Director in February 2025, a move that has raised concerns within the bureau due to Russia's history of intelligence operations against the United States.
Despite the Democrats' concerns, it remains unclear if Patel intends to cancel his scheduled visit to Moscow and St. Petersburg, which was tentatively planned for October 14. The FBI has not commented on the matter.
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