MS NOW says the FBI's arrest count under Kash Patel includes arrests made by local police; the FBI says its counting has not changed
MS NOW reports that the FBI's count of 54,000 violent crime arrests under Kash Patel includes arrests by local police and other agencies. The FBI says it has always counted arrests where it has equity in the case.
Case period:
Published by The Dispute Index editorial teamPublished Updated
Overview
The FBI and Director Kash Patel say the bureau has made about 54,000 violent crime arrests since Patel took office in February 2025, up roughly 90 percent. An MS NOW analysis published on October 14, 2026 reports that the count includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, and that the FBI referred 15 percent fewer criminal cases for federal prosecution than in the same period of the Biden administration. The FBI says it has always counted violent crime arrests where it has equity in the case and investigation. Former FBI officials quoted by MS NOW say the bureau did not count other agencies' arrests before.
Read the full background
Patel and the FBI have cited rising violent crime arrest figures at a Senate hearing and in posts by the bureau's Rapid Response account on X. At the May 2026 hearing, Patel said 45,000 violent offenders were arrested in 2025, twice as many as in 2024. An October 6 video credited him with about 54,000 violent crime arrests, and the FBI took it down after experts said it violated the Hatch Act. On October 16 the account listed "53,969+ violent crime arrests" as "UP 90%" and a nearly 20 percent decrease in the national murder rate.
MS NOW first reported in May 2026, citing a half dozen law enforcement sources, that the FBI had begun counting arrests of immigrants made by immigration officers when its agents accompanied them. FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson called that reporting false. In October, MS NOW analyzed Justice Department case data shared by Justice Connection, a group of former DOJ and FBI employees who have accused the administration of using the department for political ends. It reports that immigration cases made up 59.3 percent of federal criminal cases filed from February 2025 through July 2026, and that nearly 3,800 fewer people were charged federally with violent crimes than in the comparable Biden period, a figure that covers referrals from all agencies.
According to MS NOW, the FBI did not dispute the decline in criminal referrals and pointed instead to falling violent crime, which MS NOW notes has been a national trend for several years. MS NOW reports that the FBI acknowledges many of the counted arrests are not FBI cases, but the FBI disputes that it changed how it counts arrests. MS NOW also lists other figures Patel has cited that it calls misleading or false, including a February op-ed that described a rise from 34,000 to 67,000 arrests as a 197 percent increase. MS NOW sets the 54,000 figure beside the 11.3 million arrests made nationwide since January 2025, according to the same FBI data, and crime researcher Jeff Asher called it "a drop in the bucket".
People in this case
Kash PatelDirectly involved
Timeline
4 timeline entries on this page. Dates: May 13, 2026 to October 16, 2026
May 2026
MS NOW reports that the FBI counts arrests made by immigration officers when its agents are present
Claim
Citing a half dozen law enforcement sources, MS NOW reports that the FBI began counting arrests of immigrants made by immigration officers when FBI agents accompanied them. FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson calls the reporting false.
[01]MS NOW
MS NOW report, citing a half dozen law enforcement sources, that the FBI began counting arrests of immigrants made by immigration officers when FBI agents accompanied them, after Patel cited rising arrest figures at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. It includes a statement from FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson disputing that arrests were counted improperly.
FBI insiders: Kash Patel is 'padding the stats' to boost his record of arrests · MS NOWFull article
October 2026
FBI video credits Patel with about 54,000 violent crime arrests
Claim
A video posted by the FBI's Rapid Response account on X says violent crime arrests rose roughly 90 percent, to about 54,000, since Patel took charge in February 2025. The FBI later took the video down.
[02]Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI Rapid Response account's post sharing the two-minute video, since deleted by the account. The saved copy shows the post's full text.
FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) post of the "defund the police" video (deleted) · Federal Bureau of InvestigationPost text, saved copy of October 7, 2026[03]MS NOW
MS NOW analysis of Justice Department case data shared by Justice Connection, a group of former DOJ and FBI employees. It reports that Patel's count of 54,000 violent crime arrests includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, and that the FBI referred 15 percent fewer criminal cases for federal prosecution than in the same period of the Biden administration. It carries the FBI's statements in response and comments from former FBI officials and crime researchers.
MS NOW analysis says the arrest count includes arrests by state and local police
Source release
MS NOW publishes an analysis of Justice Department case data saying the FBI's count of 54,000 violent crime arrests includes arrests made by other agencies when an FBI employee was present, and that FBI criminal referrals fell 15 percent. The FBI disputes that it changed how it counts arrests.
[03]MS NOW
MS NOW analysis of Justice Department case data shared by Justice Connection, a group of former DOJ and FBI employees. It reports that Patel's count of 54,000 violent crime arrests includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, and that the FBI referred 15 percent fewer criminal cases for federal prosecution than in the same period of the Biden administration. It carries the FBI's statements in response and comments from former FBI officials and crime researchers.
FBI Rapid Response account repeats the figure of 53,969 violent crime arrests
Claim
The FBI's Rapid Response account on X lists "53,969+ violent crime arrests" under President Trump, up 90 percent, along with other figures it credits to the bureau.
[04]Federal Bureau of Investigation
Post by the FBI's Rapid Response account on X listing figures it credits to the bureau under President Trump, led by more than 53,969 violent crime arrests, which it says are up 90 percent, and a nearly 20 percent drop in the national murder rate.
FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) post: "THE FBI ISN'T HERE TO MAKE EXCUSES" · Federal Bureau of InvestigationFull post
Claims
Claims separate what was said from what is contested. Follow each source for the original wording and context.
What's disputed
Disputed claim
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The FBI has made more than 53,969 violent crime arrests under President Trump, an increase of 90 percent.
What is disputed
MS NOW reports that the count includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, which former FBI officials say the bureau did not count as its own before. The FBI says it has always counted violent crime arrests where it has equity in the case and investigation.
Sources (1)
- FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) post: "THE FBI ISN'T HERE TO MAKE EXCUSES" · Federal Bureau of InvestigationFull post
Disputed claim
MS NOW
The FBI's count of violent crime arrests under Kash Patel includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, which the bureau did not count as its own before.
What is disputed
The FBI disputes that it changed how it counts arrests. In May it declined MS NOW's request for a breakdown of the data behind Patel's arrest figures.
Sources (2)
- FBI insiders: Kash Patel is 'padding the stats' to boost his record of arrests · MS NOWFull article
Disputed claim
MS NOW
The FBI referred 15 percent fewer criminal cases for federal prosecution during the second Trump administration than during the same period of the Biden administration.
What is disputed
According to MS NOW, the FBI did not dispute the referral data and pointed to the decline in violent crime.
Sources (1)
Response record
Responses
Choose one response filter, or select All responses to see the full record.
4 responses. Newest first.
Federal Bureau of InvestigationFederal Bureau of Investigation, statement to MS NOWDirectly involvedBefore this statement
MS NOW reports that Patel's count of 54,000 violent crime arrests includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present. It reports that the FBI has not previously counted other agencies' arrests as part of its caseload, according to internal DOJ data and current and former officials.
"violent crime arrests where the FBI has equity in the case and investigation"
DeniedResponding to: The FBI's count of violent crime arrests under Kash Patel includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, which the bureau did not count as its own before.
Full statement and sources
In a statement to MS NOW, the FBI disputes that it changed how it tallies arrests and says it has always included violent crime arrests where it has equity in the case and investigation.
After the statement
Multiple former FBI officials tell MS NOW that this is false, and former agent Daniel Brunner says the FBI always resisted counting state and local arrests as FBI achievements.
Why this label?
The case asks whether the FBI's arrest figures under Patel count arrests made by other agencies in a way the bureau did not before. The FBI denies that it changed how it counts arrests, so we used denies.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Christopher O'LearyFormer senior FBI official and MS NOW contributor Before this statement
MS NOW reports that immigration cases made up 59.3 percent of all federal criminal cases filed by the Justice Department from February 2025 through July 2026.
"Kash Patel is actively dismantling decades of statistical integrity just to feed a political narrative"
CondemnedResponding to: The FBI's count of violent crime arrests under Kash Patel includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, which the bureau did not count as its own before.
Full statement and sources
O'Leary says Patel is dismantling decades of statistical integrity to feed a political narrative and that the FBI is poaching credit for arrests made by other agencies.
After the statement
O'Leary says the FBI is poaching credit for arrests made by other law enforcement agencies and calls the inflated figures a smoke screen meant to mask internal chaos and the departure of experienced staff.
Why this label?
The case asks whether the FBI's arrest figures under Patel count arrests made by other agencies. O'Leary says the bureau is taking credit for other agencies' arrests and criticizes Patel for it, so we used condemns.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Michael FeinbergFormer FBI special agent and MS NOW contributor Before this statement
MS NOW quotes the narration of the FBI video crediting Patel with about 54,000 violent crime arrests and reports that current and former FBI officials call those claims deeply misleading.
"He's taking credit for other agencies' efforts"
CondemnedResponding to: The FBI's count of violent crime arrests under Kash Patel includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, which the bureau did not count as its own before.
Full statement and sources
Feinberg says Patel is taking credit for other agencies' work and that most violent crimes are state and local offenses.
After the statement
Feinberg says the vast majority of violent crimes are state and local offenses, and that there is no evidence the FBI has made more use of federal racketeering laws against violent gangs under Patel.
Why this label?
The case asks whether the FBI's arrest figures under Patel count arrests made by other agencies. Feinberg says Patel is taking credit for other agencies' work, a direct criticism of the count, so we used condemns.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Ben WilliamsonFBI spokesperson Before this statement
MS NOW reports, citing a half dozen law enforcement sources, that the FBI began counting arrests of immigrants made by immigration officers when FBI agents accompanied them. Williamson disputes that arrests were counted improperly without giving specifics.
"The contentions here seeking to discredit law enforcement are false and just the latest attempt to detract from this FBI's and this administration's year of the most prolific reduction in crime in United States history."
DeniedResponding to: The FBI's count of violent crime arrests under Kash Patel includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, which the bureau did not count as its own before.
Full statement and sources
Williamson disputes that arrests were counted improperly, calling the contentions false and the latest attempt to detract from what he calls the most prolific reduction in crime in U.S. history.
After the statement
Williamson says the Most Wanted fugitives captured since January 2025 were on the run for a combined 60 years. He and the FBI decline a request for a breakdown of the data behind Patel's claims of rising arrests.
FBI insiders: Kash Patel is 'padding the stats' to boost his record of arrests · MS NOWFull articleWhy this label?
The case asks whether the FBI's arrest figures under Patel count arrests made by other agencies in a way the bureau did not before. Williamson calls the contentions false without giving specifics, so we used denies.
This label describes the statement's response within the context above.
Sources
(4)
Original post
FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) post: "THE FBI ISN'T HERE TO MAKE EXCUSES"
About this source
Post by the FBI's Rapid Response account on X listing figures it credits to the bureau under President Trump, led by more than 53,969 violent crime arrests, which it says are up 90 percent, and a nearly 20 percent drop in the national murder rate.
- Author
- FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response)
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
FBI insiders: Kash Patel is 'padding the stats' to boost his record of arrests
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
MS NOW report, citing a half dozen law enforcement sources, that the FBI began counting arrests of immigrants made by immigration officers when FBI agents accompanied them, after Patel cited rising arrest figures at a Senate Appropriations subcommittee hearing. It includes a statement from FBI spokesperson Ben Williamson disputing that arrests were counted improperly.
- Author
- Carol Leonnig and Ken Dilanian
- Published
- Accessed
Reporting
Crime stats touted by Kash Patel are bolstered by arrests made by state and local agencies, not FBI
Relevant passage: Full article
About this source
MS NOW analysis of Justice Department case data shared by Justice Connection, a group of former DOJ and FBI employees. It reports that Patel's count of 54,000 violent crime arrests includes arrests made by state and local police and other federal agencies when an FBI employee was present, and that the FBI referred 15 percent fewer criminal cases for federal prosecution than in the same period of the Biden administration. It carries the FBI's statements in response and comments from former FBI officials and crime researchers.
- Author
- Ken Dilanian and Carol Leonnig
- Published
- Accessed
Original post
FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response) post of the "defund the police" video (deleted)
About this source
The FBI Rapid Response account's post sharing the two-minute video, since deleted by the account. The saved copy shows the post's full text.
- Author
- FBI Rapid Response (@FBI_Response)
- Published
- Accessed
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- Publisher
- The Dispute Index
- Title
- MS NOW says the FBI's arrest count under Kash Patel includes arrests made by local police; the FBI says its counting has not changed
- First published
- Last updated
- Permalink
- https://disputeindex.com/cases/ms-now-says-the-fbi-s-arrest-count-under-kash-patel-includes-arrests-made-by-local-police-the-fbi-says-its-counting-has-not-changed
The Dispute Index. "MS NOW says the FBI's arrest count under Kash Patel includes arrests made by local police; the FBI says its counting has not changed". First published: 2026-10-22. Last updated: 2026-10-22. https://disputeindex.com/cases/ms-now-says-the-fbi-s-arrest-count-under-kash-patel-includes-arrests-made-by-local-police-the-fbi-says-its-counting-has-not-changed