FBI director Kash Patel is drawing criticism from across the ideological spectrum for his habit of flying SWAT teams around America to protect himself and his girlfriend, aspiring country singer Alexis Wilkins.

Concerns raised by DC ethics watchdogs, reporters, and conservative podcasters include the cost to taxpayers of the private flights; abuses of power ranging from the small (should girlfriends get spousal benefits?), to the large (does the FBI director even have the authority to hire out jets for private trips?); as well as the effectiveness of relying on adrenaline-junkie SWAT teams for jobs that demand patience, blending in, and other skills that are pretty much the opposite of their training.

That last point turns out to be a relevant one. As the New York Times reports

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