In a letter with Jamie Raskin, Jim Himes says Patel could be traveling to Russia in furtherance of its campaign against American democracy
Jim HimesRanking member of the House Intelligence Committee, in a joint letter with Rep. Jamie Raskin
Himes and Raskin write that Patel's trip could further Russia's campaign to undermine American democracy, a few weeks before the midterm elections.
Responding to
FBI Director Kash Patel is scheduled to visit Russia on October 14 and 15, 2026, first stopping in Moscow and then St. Petersburg, with the FSB likely to host him.
“We are troubled that you could be traveling to Russia, not only out of apparent ignorance of its malign intentions, but in furtherance of its longstanding campaign to undermine American democracy.”
Original text
Official statement
Where this statement fits
Raskin and Himes urge Kash Patel to call off a reported Russia trip; MS NOW corrects a report that he had landed there
POLITICO reported in July 2026 that FBI Director Kash Patel planned to visit Moscow and St. Petersburg on October 14 and 15, likely hosted by Russia's Federal Security Service (FSB). On October 9, Reps. Jamie Raskin and Jim Himes, the top Democrats on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees, released a letter asking Patel to call off the trip, citing the FSB's record of espionage against U.S. officials. On October 14, MS NOW reported that Patel had landed in Russia. The FBI posted video of Patel at Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, and MS NOW corrected its report on air that afternoon, saying the timing of any potential trip remains unclear.
Source and context
Original text
About this source
Five-page letter dated October 5, 2026, from the ranking Democrats on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees. It asks Patel to cancel a reported two-day trip to Moscow and St. Petersburg that Russia's Federal Security Service would host, and, if he goes ahead, to give a closed-door briefing by October 12 on the trip and on FBI cooperation with Russian and Chinese law enforcement.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Official statement
About this source
Press release issued October 9, 2026, by House Intelligence Committee Democrats announcing the Raskin and Himes letter to Patel. It quotes the letter's call to cancel the trip and summarizes the lawmakers' concerns about the FSB and about FBI cooperation with Russian and Chinese law enforcement.
Archived copy (opens in a new tab)Before the quotation
The letter says the FBI director holds information that would be highly valuable to America's adversaries, and cites the $25,000 Patel was paid for taking part in a documentary made by a filmmaker it calls a known Kremlin ally.
After the quotation
The letter quotes a political analyst with close ties to the Kremlin who suggested Russia could give the American side damaging material about Democrats, and says Patel may be traveling to Russia a few weeks before the midterms.
How this statement is classified
The label describes this statement's response within the context above.
Why this label?
The case centers on Patel's reported trip to Russia hosted by the FSB. Himes writes that the trip could advance Russia's efforts to undermine American democracy, a direct objection to it, so we used condemns.
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- Kash Patel
More from this case
Read the full caseKash Patel says MS NOW constantly tells lies about the FBI after its Russia report
“MS NOW just reported I had "landed in Russia" for meetings with the FSB. The same outlet constantly tells lies about this FBI and law enforcement's historic achievements in safeguarding the American people.”Read statement
FBI says Patel was at Liberty University, not in Russia
Federal Bureau of Investigation
“Here's where Kash Patel actually is... Liberty U, doing a law enforcement appreciation event”Read statement
Jamie Raskin asks Kash Patel to call off his reported Russia trip
“In the interest of national security, we ask you to reconsider. Call off this trip.”Read statement
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- In a letter with Jamie Raskin, Jim Himes says Patel could be traveling to Russia in furtherance of its campaign against American democracy
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The Dispute Index. "In a letter with Jamie Raskin, Jim Himes says Patel could be traveling to Russia in furtherance of its campaign against American democracy". First published: 2026-10-24. Last updated: 2026-10-24. https://disputeindex.com/events/6654-himes-and-raskin-write-that-patel-s-trip