Ranking Member Raskin Launches Investigation Into Kash Patel’s Misuse of FBI Funds for Unlawful Bonus Payments to Inner Circle
New Information Obtained by Judiciary Democrats Shows Patel Directed Over $1 Million in Unsanctioned Payments to “Payback Squad” of MAGA Agents and Members of Personal Security Detail
Washington, D.C. (June 16, 2026)—Today, Rep. Jamie Raskin, Ranking Member of the House Judiciary Committee, launched an investigation into a scheme inside Kash Patel’s corrupt FBI toillegally direct over $1 million in taxpayer-funded bonuses towards a small group of agentswilling to brazenly ignore the law in favor of pursuing political targets and members of Patel’s personal security detail who are privy to his many abuses of FBI resources.
“Who has received these unlawful bonuses? The agents on your Director’s Advisory Team – perhaps better known as ‘the Payback Squad’ given their willingness to pursue political targets and overlook pesky obstacles like probable cause. […] For their part, the agents on your security detail have also witnessed your indiscretions at the Poodle Room, Ned’s, Rao’s, Lower Broadway, the Strip, the Milano Cortina Olympics and beyond – when joining you on date nights and bro trips alike. […] These awards appear to constitute a gross mismanagement of funds and an abuse of authority by the Director's Office,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.
According to information received by the Committee, Director Patel’s office issued substantial and recurring bonus payments to agents on his “Director’s Advisory Team” and members of his security detail, in some cases exceeding statutory pay limits. Multiple individuals reportedly received recurring payments totaling tens of thousands of dollars within a short period. The Director’s office has disbursed these bonus funds at such an extreme rate that some payments could not be made from depleted accounts.
The Director’s Advisory Team is a group of loyalist agents who have carried out partisan directives while disregarding standard investigative safeguards. Some individuals are reported tohave received five consecutive $8,000 payments—nearly $40,000 per person—illegally and pushing compensation beyond federal salary caps.
These payments raise serious concerns that FBI funds are being used to reward political loyalty rather than merit and professionalism. At the same time as Patel has been issuing these bonuses, numerous experienced and decorated FBI officials—including former Acting Director and Medal of Valor recipient Brian Driscoll and senior counterterrorism official Steven Jensen—have been removed from their roles.
“The FBI’s budget is not as a slush fund to reward craven loyalty and ensure that your abuses of power and indiscretions remain hidden,” wrote Ranking Member Raskin.
Ranking Member Raskin is seeking a full accounting of all bonus and award payments, including who received them, who authorized them, and the legal justification for such payments, as well as internal communications related to these decisions.
Click here to read the letter.