Man Shouts at FBI Director Kash Patel to Get the Epstein Files ‘Out There’ During Rushed Red Carpet Appearance

Kash Patel faced pointed demands to speed up the release of remaining Jeffrey Epstein records while attending a high-profile Formula 1 event in Las Vegas over the weekend.

The FBI director, who is from Las Vegas, appeared at the Formula 1 Heineken Las Vegas Grand Prix on Saturday, Nov. 22, alongside Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. As the pair moved quickly down the red carpet, someone in the crowd shouted for Patel to make the Epstein documents public. The heckler called out for the “Epstein files” to be released, drawing a brief reaction from Noem, who glanced over and laughed in apparent surprise.

Pressure around Epstein-related disclosures has long targeted the Justice Department and Attorney General Pam Bondi, but the FBI has also come under scrutiny amid ongoing public calls for transparency. Patel and Noem’s appearance came just days after President Donald Trump signed sweeping legislation aimed at forcing the release of remaining Epstein records.

The newly signed Epstein Files Transparency Act instructs the Justice Department to publish all unclassified material in its possession tied to Epstein’s investigation and prosecution, according to the bill’s official House summary. The act does not require disclosure of anything classified, anything that would identify victims, or anything that could interfere with a federal investigation. Still, it explicitly bars agencies from withholding or redacting information solely to avoid embarrassment, reputational damage, or political fallout — including for government officials, public figures, or foreign dignitaries.

Under the measure, the release is expected to include records connected to Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell, along with flight logs, travel documentation, and references to individuals named in connection with the case, including government officials, per the summary.

Trump signed the act on Nov. 19 after reversing course and urging House Republicans to support the disclosure push. By that point, the bill was already moving toward passage with strong bipartisan backing. The law gives the Justice Department 30 days from the signing date to publish the covered files, and Bondi told reporters on Nov. 19 that she intends to meet the deadline.

“We will continue to follow the law, again, while protecting victims, but also providing maximum transparency,” Bondi said.

Patel is confronting separate criticism unrelated to Epstein. In recent weeks, reports have questioned his apparent personal use of government resources — specifically, claims that elite FBI SWAT personnel have been assigned to protect his girlfriend, country singer Alexis Wilkins, and that he has used an FBI aircraft for personal travel.

The New York Times reported that SWAT resources have repeatedly been diverted to Wilkins in recent months, a move described as highly unusual by current and former FBI officials. MS NOW (formerly MSNBC), citing two people described as having direct knowledge, reported that the detail includes elite agents typically based out of the Nashville field office, raising concerns that their reassignment could affect emergency response capacity in the region.

Former FBI agent Christopher O’Leary called the arrangement a misuse of authority on MS NOW, arguing that Wilkins is not Patel’s spouse and does not live with him or in the same city. He noted that Wilkins and Patel, who met in Nashville, do not share a home and that Patel’s legal residence remains in Las Vegas, though he frequently travels to Washington, D.C.

In a statement shared with the network, the FBI said Wilkins has received a protective detail due to “hundreds of credible death threats” linked to her relationship with Patel and declined to provide further specifics “out of respect for her safety.”

Patel has also drawn heat for aircraft use after previously criticizing his predecessor Christopher Wray for private jet travel. In October, multiple outlets reported that Patel used a roughly $60 million FBI jet to travel to State College, Pa., where Wilkins performed the national anthem at a Penn State wrestling event. The Times also reported that he used government aircraft for other leisure travel, including a summer golf trip to Scotland.

Patel addressed what he called “baseless rumors” and “fake news” in a post on X on Nov. 2, though he did not directly respond to the jet allegations. In the same post, he defended Wilkins against what he described as unfounded attacks, calling her “a true patriot” and his partner.