fbi: Unburdened by What has Been

Can Kash Patel usher in a new era of trust at the fbi?

Suspendables Edit of a fbi wanted poster

You have probably noticed that whenever I type “fbi,” I don’t capitalize it. This is something I learned from another fbi whistleblower through the Lamplighter Project. An essay by former fbi special agent and whistleblower, Dr. Fred Whitehurst, is prefaced with this note, “Though not grammatically correct, the author's use of lowercase letters when referencing the "fbi" is intentional. The diminution symbolizes that "the organization does not... represent a human enterprise that deserves respect at this time in its history."

This is why I have also ceased to capitalize fbi in my writing, whether here or elsewhere. It would be easy enough to point to whistleblower retaliation alone to demonstrate how and why the organization dos not represent a human enterprise that deserves respect at this time in its history. We will do just that this week. But, there are also countless other examples of weaponization that the fbi has engaged in over it’s history, and in recent years, that we will touch on.

First though, Kash Patel. Kash Patel is now the 9th director of the fbi; 13th if you include it’s predecessor renditions going back to the Bureau of Investigation in 1908. He’s the only person to hold the position who is not a white man. Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has been a focal point for Democrats in recent years. Last month they hosted a debate for the next DNC (Democratic National Convention) chairperson. As Fox News noted at the time, “Biden and many Democrats portrayed DEI efforts as a way to boost inclusion and representation for communities historically marginalized.” That is how they pitch DEI to the masses at least.

The Fox piece went on to say, “the candidates were asked for a show of hands about how many believed that racism and misogyny played a role in former Vice President Kamala Harris' defeat in the 2024 election to Trump. All eight candidates running for DNC, as well as many people in the audience, raised their hands. "That's good. You all pass," MSNBC host Jonathan Capehart, one of the moderators of the forum, quipped.” Nonetheless, for all their focus, gaslighting, and pearl clutching regarding DEI, it doesn’t matter whatsoever to them when it comes to Director Patel.

Quite frankly, DEI initiatives shouldn’t matter whatsoever to anyone in any political party. Nor should they matter to any human who wants the best possible government; or even best possible private sector. DEI markers like race, sex, gender identity, sexual preference, etc., have little to no bearing on one’s ability to function in any particular role. Nor are they indicative of one’s ability and experience for a given role.

The following video is Director Patel’s speech at a September campaign rally for President Trump. (It starts about a minute in) One of the things he says is, “I want our future generation to know history, math and economics. I don’t want them to know gender fluidity at the age of ten.” A bit later he says, “Illegal immigrants do not come first in this country. There’s a legal way here, and just like thousands of you, I found myself legally here in this country. My father fled a genocidal dictatorship and had the American dream for his children.” Director Patel, more than most, knows that living the American dream comes through hard work and determination, in spite of human shortcomings, difficulties, and hardship. Not because of one’s DEI metrics.

Oddly enough, since Democrats are calling the kettle black regarding Director Patel’s DEI metrics, they now have resorted to pointing to merit as the issue at hand with his nomination to be the next fbi director. This opinion piece sums up those talking points nicely by saying, “Patel’s lack of qualifications to serve as the next director of the fbi are too numerous to recount here in full.” Laughable at best, this appeal to authority fallacy, also holds little weight.

Director Patel’s career in government started with his role as a public defender in the Miami, FL, area. In 2014, he became a prosecutor for the Department of Justice, the mother agency of the fbi which he now heads. In 2017 he began working for former Congressman Devin Nunes. This is where he truly began to see just how rotten and corrupt the underbelly of our government is. This is why, I believe, so many politicians (R and D) are so afraid of what the fbi might look like under his leadership.

Leadership. That is not a word I use lightly and certainly cannot be said about any of the higher ranking officials I ever saw during my time in the fbi. The closest examples of actual leadership I had were both my SWAT team leader and assistant team leader. Those positions, however, are occupied be regular special agents, not people who have even one promotion under their belt. Next would be the SSA (supervisory special agent) assigned to my Quantico class. SSA is the first promotion an fbi agent can receive. He was someone who would later join me in the Kansas City Division. Do you think I have heard from any of them in the last 29 months? I’ll give you a hint. The shortest answer is the most likely. You can be the judge of how good of leaders they are; and they were the best I encountered.

Director Patel, on the other hand, has exemplified leadership throughout his time investigating the Russiagate hoax alongside Nunes, and certainly over the last four years since being out of government. After the 2020 election, Director Patel started his non-profit, The Kash Foundation. As I wrote nearly two years ago in [Some] Suspendables go to Washington (the most read post out of all of them at the time),

“The Kash Foundation donated $5000 to me and Steve AFTER we had been canceled by the FBI. Which was also AFTER we had made protected disclosures to Congress. I have never met Kash Patel. Shortly before Christmas, another whistleblower told me that his foundation wanted to help me and my family since the FBI had suspended me on September 26th and sent another letter dated November 3rd informing me that my pay had been suspended. I received that letter late in the day on November 4th. Late in the day that my brother, our friend, and I were in Virginia collecting my families goods from the FBI lockup where they had been holding them hostage for the previous 6 weeks.

“When I spoke to Kash he made it very clear that he did not want to know anything about any of my protected disclosures. He wanted nothing in return. He wanted to help us with his foundation because he has seen first hand how a weaponized government seeks to destroy those they have deemed as dissidents. After my name was leaked, the foundation released a statement saying they don’t discuss recipients of charitable funds, but as part of the smear campaign, this became one of the primary talking points of the weaponized government and their lackeys in the media. This is just another attempt by a weaponized government to smear those hated dissidents.”

A meme I made back in 2023 demonstrating the absurdity of the slander slung towards The Suspendables and Kash

I have since met Director Patel a handful of times and continue to extend my gratitude to him and his foundation for what they have done for me and my family. It is because of Director Patel too, that Jesse Binnall and his Binnall Law Group represent me. It was Director Patel who put me in touch with Jesse in those early days of my suspension after I had lamented to him the relative dissatisfaction I had with my current lawyer at the time. My legal team now includes the American Center for Law and Justice and Empower Oversight, powerhouses in their own right, and I’m not sure any of it would have happened without Director Patel helping us through his foundation first.

My favorite book outside of the Bible is The Mission the Men and Me by former Delta Force commander, Pete Blaber. I first read this book during my 2008-09 deployment to Iraq. I have read it numerous times since then and it has also become my most gifted book. I even sent fellow Suspendable Kyle Seraphin a copy shortly before his own cancellation by the fbi. Oddly enough, it is even included on a book list put out by the fbi’s hostage rescue team.

In the book Blaber says, recounting what his first battalion commander told him, ““The 3Ms are the keys to being successful in life. They stand for the mission, the men, and me.” He then drew a line from the top M, through the middle M, down to the bottom M. “They’re all connected,” he continued. “So if you neglect one, you’ll screw up the others. The first M stands for the mission; it’s the purpose for which you’re doing what you’re doing. Whether in your personal or professional life, make sure you understand it, and that it makes legal, moral, and ethical sense, then use it to guide all your decisions. The second M stands for the men.

“Joshua Chamberlin, a Medal of Honor-receiving schoolteacher in the Civil War, once said that ‘there are two things an officer must do to lead men: he must care for his men’s welfare, and he must show courage.’ Welfare of the troops and courage are inextricably linked. When it comes to your men you can’t be good at one without being good at the other. Take care of your men’s welfare by listening and leading them with sound tactics and techniques that accomplish your mission, and by always having the courage of your convictions to do the right thing by them.

“The final M stands for me. Me comes last for a reason. You have to take care of yourself, but you should only do so after you have taken care of the mission, and the men. Never put your own personal well-being, or advancement, ahead of the accomplishment of your mission and taking care of your men.” Director Patel exemplifies these important elements of true leadership; servant leadership. The same cannot be said about his predecessor, Chrissy Wray. Interestingly, Wray was no more qualified than any other recent fbi director. He was a law clerk and then worked as an attorney at DoJ for 8 years before moving on to private practice where he primarily served as Chris Christie’s personal attorney. Those qualifications are paltry at best.

The above video is of Director Patel’s speech from President Trump’s inauguration. In it, he mentions how his father saw, firsthand, what a genocidal, anti-constitution regime does to its people. They moved here, legally. He goes on to say, “In the last calendar year alone, we had 100,000 drug overdoses. In the last calendar year alone, over 100,000 rapes. In the last calendar year alone, we had 17,000 homicides. That is unacceptable in 2025 in the United States of America. That is why we need Constitutional law and order.”

Later on he continues, “I am standing here because of the American dream. I am not standing here because of the color of my skin. I am standing here because I earned my right on this stage, and you earned your right to be here with me.” Near the end of his remarks he says, “we are going to end the tiered system of justice, we are going to remove the weaponization of the intelligence community for policitcal purposes, and we are going to put the men and women of America first.”

I believe him. I believe that this is his goal. It is a lofty goal. It is a desirable goal. It is a mission first, me last goal. For Director Patel, that goal now starts with perhaps the most weaponized piece of the government that Americans have seen in recent years. Director Patel saw it first hand while he worked to uncover the lies, deception, and criminality of Russiagate. I believe, that if he can avoid being insulated by the apparatchik, he will see that he was just scratching the surface on how deep seated and evil the corruption of the fbi is.

In Matthew 15, Jesus says, “For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.” All of these types of wrongdoing have been committed by fbi employees in the last few years alone. Many more examples if you look back through their history. Let’s start with retired SSA Sean Clark. Clark now enjoys a nice retirement gig at BDO. I’ve covered Sean once before.

His Name is Sean Clark

But now, I’m able to bring a bit more to the fore regarding his malfeasance. I have had multiple sources confirm that Sean is the unnamed subject of this Department of Justice - Office of the Inspector General (DoJ-OIG) report entitled “Notification of Concerns with the Absence of a Policy Regarding fbi Employees Emailing Child Sexual Abuse Material and Other Contraband.” With a title like that, who’s eyes don’t roll to the back of their head because of the immense government speak? But, you may just think, “oh, but the fbi didn’t have a policy, so what’s the big deal?”

The big deal is that email CSAM (child sexual abuse material) is a federal crime. The OIG, cause they are part of the government and equally pathetic as most other agencies the vast majority of the time, failed to mention that in their report. I didn’t even work that violation and I knew this simple truth that all law enforcement officers in the country know; well, at least the one’s with half a brain. As 18 U.S. Code § 2252A - Certain activities relating to material constituting or containing child pornography, makes clear, it is a federal crime if ANY PERSON “knowingly mails, or transports or ships using any means or facility” “including by computer, any child pornography;” furthermore, it also notes that it is a crime to distribute “any child pornography using any means or facility…including by computer.”

Sean knowingly emailed CSAM to an AUSA (Assistant United States Attorney). That is a federal crime. The OIG report points out that Sean, “told the OIG that CSAM should not be transmitted over email.” Oh, so he did know it should not be done! From a law enforcement perspective, this is even more inductive of actus reus and mens rea. These concepts, the “guilty act” and “guilty mind” are Criminal Law 101 basics. Here, Sean commits the guilty act by sending CSAM via email, than admits to the guilty mind when telling the OIG that he knew it should not have been transmitted over email.

What happened though? What was the punishment? Nothing. Sean abruptly retired sometime after the OIG report came out, with his security clearance, and took the job at BDO. Do you think the fbi would have been as lenient with you? I know they wouldn’t have. The punishment for those crimes, according to the statute, is that “such person shall be fined under this title and imprisoned for not less than 15 years nor more than 40 years.” A minimum prison term of 15 years for you, a pension, security clearance, and retirement gig for Sean. Will Director Patel rectify an issue like this?

The video above is a short recap by Amy Nelson regarding her family’s years long struggle against a corrupt fbi. It gets worse though. It wasn’t just the fbi. It was the doj, private law firms, and Amazon. The Nelson family story is one of the most egregious I have encountered, yet all too few know of it. The case goes back to 2020 when Amazon accused her husband of being involved in a multi-million dollar kickback scheme. Eventually, DoJ dropped the charges, but much of the damage was already done.

Two others accused by Amazon took a plea deal early on. The case was so egregious, so weaponized, that the judge vacated those pleas. If it wasn’t for Amy and her family standing in the gap, those guilty pleas would have stuck. Perhaps worse, her husband likely would have eventually been found guilty too, even though he never was. Amazon is continuing in a civil suit against them as well. This brief coverage of their story does not do it justice. For a longer recap of what happened to them check out this episode of The Kyle Seraphin Show. How will Kash Patel ensure that a case like this never gets brought in the future? What about the Nelsons? How can they ever be made whole after years of battling such evil?

former fbi agent Christopher Bauer

What about people like former fbi agent Christopher Bauer or current (at least as of January 27, 2025) fbi SSA Eduardo Valdivia. Bauer, as the OIG notes here, was found guilty of one count of sodomy and one count of sex abuse of a child less than 12 years of age, after a trial by jury. Meanwhile, Valdivia was indicted by a federal grand jury on 19 different counts, 8 of which are for second-degree rape, and others include sextortion and other sexual offenses. Valdivia has yet to have his day in court, but what is publicly available does not look favorable.

This is not Valdivia’s first run in with criminal charges either. In 2020, he was acquitted of attempted murder in Maryland. John Lalos, the Assistant State’s Attorney trying the case, said this during closing arguments: “You don’t get to shoot people for hurting your feelings. He never touched him. There was no immediate threat.” “This was not a reasonable response. He had options. He chose the most serious.” fbi agents are trained in other methods of force. They are not trained to go right to the gun, unless absolutely necessary. Which would mean if the criteria for deadly force is met.

DoJ’s deadly force policy states, “Law enforcement and correctional officers of the Department of Justice may use deadly force only when necessary, that is, when the officer has a reasonable belief that the subject of such force poses an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury to the officer or to another person.” Another part of the policy states, “Officers will be trained in alternative methods and tactics for handling resisting subjects, which must be used when the use of deadly force is not authorized by this policy.” Did this guy he shot pose an imminent danger of death or serious physical injury? The jury claims he did by their verdict. If Valdivia wasn’t an fbi agent, do you think he would have still been acquitted?

What about the killing the of LaVoy Finicum in 2016? Many assert that this was a murder at the hands most elite agents; the Hostage Rescue Team. You can see it take place in the above video. You can also see agents tampering with evidence in the aftermath of the shooting. Those agents are yet unidentified. Furthermore, one of the HRT agents involved, W. Joseph Astarita, was charged by a grand jury for making false statements. Astarita told his superiors that he did not fire his weapon. According to The Guardian, “The “misleading conduct” and failure to disclose the fact that he had fired two rounds played a role in the FBI’s decision not to call a shooting incident response team to investigate, according to federal officials.”

Astarita was acquitted in 2018. If you fired two rounds into another human, and then you later told police that you didn’t fire any, do you think you would have been acquitted? After the acquittal, the OIG stated that they respected the jury’s decision, but their own investigation would persist. That investigation concluded in 2024. It concluded with six page memo that, according to Oregon Live, “recommended the FBI develop better guidelines when an FBI team is working with local or state police agencies to ensure crime scenes are properly maintained and that removal of any equipment or potentially dangerous items is appropriately documented.”

Oh, gee, thanks OIG. fbi agents shouldn’t tamper with evidence in the wake of an agent involved shooting. Thanks for your 8 year investigation. Remember what I said about the OIG being “part of the government and equally pathetic as most other agencies the vast majority of the time” though. If you had tampered with evidence, do you think you would have gotten off with a few recommendations and not even a slap on the wrist? How does Kash Patel fix that?

Then there is the case of former fbi agent, Scott M. Bowman, who stole drug money to buy cars and plastic surgery for his wife. No, I’m not joking. Bowman signed a plea deal and was fired in 2015. His actions led to more than a dozen defendants getting their charges dropped. Next up is former agent Matthew Lowry. In this case, 28 defendants had their charges dropped because Lowry was stealing heroin evidence for his own personal use. Although he didn’t use drugs or pay for plastic surgery for his wife, former fbi agent Nicholas Anthony Williams is another convicted thief who used his position for his own personal gain, stealing silver bars and nearly $10,000 in currency while executing search warrants.

Brett Janes, a former fbi contractor, pled guilty in 2023 to production and receipt of CSAM. He didn’t get off as easily as Sean Clark. Janes allegedly contacted about a dozen minor boys in efforts to sexually groom them. According to DoJ’s press release, he “allegedly enticed one victim, a 13-year-old boy whom he met through the first-person shooter game Valorant, to strip and masturbate over a live video Discord call by threatening to kill himself and by paying him money over CashApp. He allegedly enticed a 12-year-old boy to create and send him child sexual abuse material (CSAM) over Discord through flattery and repeated begging. Janes allegedly received child sexual abuse material from these two minors, as well as two separate minor victims, and attempted to meet up with a minor. He also allegedly purchased hundreds of videos and images of child sexual abuse material from Telegram.”

I’ve written about some of the bigger fbi issues before, some of which I’ll post below. These included the Twitter Files, Russiagate, FISA, their informant base, assault on people of faith including Catholics and Muslims, whistleblowers, and overall how they are truly a secret police organization. All of the stories that I touched on in this post are worthy of their own stand alone piece. Maybe I’ll get to some of them in more detail over time. I didn’t even get to the endless examples of how the fbi uses what The Suspendables call “the playbook” to drum up terrorism cases, as discussed in the video above. The fbi no longer uses this this method against just purported Islamic extremists though. They used it against J6ers and use it in “domestic terrorism” cases as well.

Nonetheless, at what point do, what the naysayers would call, anecdotal examples become evidence? The examples that we know of are nearly endless. I barely scratched the surface of some of the fbi’s lesser known wrongdoing here from the last handful of years, much less over the course of their history, and haven’t even touched on what many would consider failures. Like with the Tsarnaev brothers and the Boston Marathon bombing, or the Pulse nightclub shooting and how the perpetrator’s father was an fbi informant. Then there cases like the Las Vegas shooting where there are many questions left unanswered, or the undercover fbi agent who goaded Elton Simpson to “Tear up Texas.” Simpson tried to, but was shot dead by a Garland, TX, police officer first.

I do not think that Kash Patel can singlehandedly fix the fbi. I don’t think anyone can do that. In fact, because of the litany of abuses by the fbi throughout it’s history, I think the most prudent course of action in an alleged land of the free is to abolish it. Like the hearts of men, the fbi is “deceitful above all things and desperately sick.” Their deceit and sickness spans the entirety of their existence.

I do think that Director Patel can implement much needed, and long overdue, change to the organization. If he is able to surround himself with the right people. If he is able to remain humble as he has in all my interactions with him. If he is able to remain mission focused as he has demonstrated throughout his career. I will continue to pray for Director Patel, our nation, and it’s leaders; as I have even throughout my suspension.

If called upon to do so, I may even go back to that den of vipers. As I said when I testified nearly two years ago, “I am here today because even though I am wrongfully suspended from the fbi, I remain duty bound to the American people to play my small role in rectifying these issues. After all, I never swore an oath to the fbi. I swore my oath to the Constitution.” I know the same is true of Director Patel.

“First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, ² for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. ³ This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.” -1 Timothy 2:1-6

Postscript