FBI Director Kash Patel has requested that MS NOW issue more than just a correction following a false report claiming he had arrived in Russia. Patel stated on X that MS NOW incorrectly placed him in Russia based on two anonymous sources while he was actually in Virginia attending a law enforcement event at Liberty University. He criticized the network for its verification failure and emphasized the importance of accurate reporting for law enforcement. Patel stated, "This is bigger than a false story about me. The men and women of law enforcement deserve accurate reporting while they protect communities and take violent criminals off our streets. Three apologies are owed: to this FBI, to the law enforcement community, and to the American People."
MS NOW did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital, but a spokesperson referred to the network's on-air correction. On Wednesday, MS NOW anchor Peter Alexander had reported that Patel had "landed in Russia" for meetings, citing two FBI sources who expressed concerns about his alleged visit to the Kremlin. Following the report, the FBI's Rapid Response account noted that Patel was in Virginia for a law enforcement appreciation event. MS NOW reporter Ken Dilanian later issued a correction, stating, "I want to correct reporting from earlier today. We've since learned that Patel did not, in fact, land in Russia today and remains in the U.S." He added that the timing of any potential trip was still unclear and expressed regret for the error. Additionally, there was speculation that the false report might have been an attempt to identify leakers within the FBI, although an official did not confirm this but indicated that the leakers would likely be identified.