Frustration mounts inside FBI over thwarted ‘potential’ terror plot

Senior Justice Department and FBI officials expressed frustration Friday that FBI Director Kash Patel publicly disclosed an investigation into what he called a “potential” Halloween weekend terrorist plot near Detroit — before investigators had a chance to flesh out key details, including whether the attack actually was imminent, two people familiar with the matter told MSNBC.

At 7:32 am Friday, Patel posted on X: “This morning the FBI thwarted a potential terrorist attack and arrested multiple subjects in Michigan who were allegedly plotting a violent attack over Halloween weekend. More details to come.”

Justice officials registered concern that Patel appeared to have acted hastily on the probe without Main Justice’s approval, with the apparent goal of seeking some credit for the FBI, but in a way that could interfere with the investigation, according to the sources. MSNBC has not named them as they fear retaliation.

The alleged plot involved a group of young people, some of whom are minors, who had been engaging online with Islamic extremist content. But the sources said the investigation was in its early stages, with no criminal charges prepared and no clear understanding of what exactly the suspects planned to do and where.

In the hours since Patel’s tweet, the FBI has not revealed any further details about the case, and no public documents have been filed.

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Michigan’s Democratic Attorney General, Dana Nessel, said during a public appearance that she is “very grateful for the FBI work in protecting the community.”

Today’s public declaration by Patel harkened to posts on X in September when he hailed that law enforcement had arrested a subject in the Charlie Kirk assassination; hours later it was found to be a premature claim, with law enforcement realizing after questioning the person that they had no link to the case.

Patel’s announcement also came as he has been under fire for his use of the FBI jet for personal trips, including what flight records showed was a flight by an FBI Gulfstream jet last week to State College, Pennsylvania, where his country singer girlfriend was performing, and then to Nashville, where she lives.