{"id":1186,"date":"2026-05-16T15:39:39","date_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:39:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1186"},"modified":"2026-05-16T15:39:40","modified_gmt":"2026-05-16T15:39:40","slug":"kash-patel-faces-scrutiny-over-snorkeling-outing-at-uss-arizona-memorial-in-hawaii","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/?p=1186","title":{"rendered":"Kash Patel faces scrutiny over snorkeling outing at USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"border-color:var(--article-border);background-color:var(--article-inner-background)\" class=\"dcr-wqti5a\">\n<div class=\"dcr-2zxs1v\">\n<div style=\"--grid-area:media\" data-gu-name=\"media\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tr9ye5\">\n<figure id=\"affd5e07-c653-4d31-bd48-9ea07c1b0c56\" class=\"dcr-142siv7\">\n<div id=\"img-1\" class=\"dcr-1t8m8f2\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Kash Patel in a suit\" src=\"https:\/\/i.guim.co.uk\/img\/media\/6dbd635ea67d57568403d302e85bd8c2e91baeec\/0_0_9504_6336\/master\/9504.jpg?width=465&amp;dpr=1&amp;s=none&amp;crop=none\" width=\"465\" height=\"310\" loading=\"eager\" class=\"dcr-evn1e9\"><span class=\"dcr-v822l1\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-gup2gr\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fntg6k\"><label for=\"the-checkbox\" class=\"dcr-1xgwz8b\"><\/label> <\/p>\n<div id=\"the-caption\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1os51wo\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Kash Patel testifies before a Senate committee on 12 May 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Thomas\/CNP\/Andrew Thomas &#8211; CNP\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/span><a href=\"#img-1\" data-ignore=\"global-link-styling\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-13fd1ms\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><button data-element-id=\"affd5e07-c653-4d31-bd48-9ea07c1b0c56\" type=\"button\" class=\"open-lightbox dcr-4tmywn\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><span class=\"dcr-194i6pr\">View image in fullscreen<\/span><\/button><\/a><\/div>\n<p><span class=\"dcr-n4pnam\"><figcaption data-spacefinder-role=\"inline\" class=\"dcr-1hdkqum\"><span class=\"dcr-hvsf4t\"><\/span><span class=\"dcr-1qvd3m6\">Kash Patel testifies before a Senate committee on 12 May 2026.<\/span> Photograph: Andrew Thomas\/CNP\/Andrew Thomas &#8211; CNP\/Shutterstock<\/figcaption><\/span><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:border\" data-gu-name=\"border\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\"><\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:headline\" data-gu-name=\"headline\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-14emo0l\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1aqe7zu\">\n<h1 class=\"dcr-1k1a1x\">Kash Patel faces scrutiny over snorkeling outing at USS Arizona memorial in Hawaii<\/h1>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:standfirst\" data-gu-name=\"standfirst\" class=\"dcr-1fnjjtg\">\n<div class=\"dcr-15in7js\">\n<p>FBI director reportedly took a snorkel excursion at site containing remains of more than 1,000 navy sailors and marines<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:body\" data-gu-name=\"body\" class=\"dcr-kn9unn\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1a4fred\">\n<div id=\"maincontent\" class=\"dcr-ydnaza\">\n<div class=\"article-body-commercial-selector article-body-viewer-selector dcr-1c9t5u6\">\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/fbi\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">FBI<\/a> director, Kash Patel, is facing new scrutiny following reports that he participated in a snorkeling excursion around the USS Arizona during a trip to Hawaii last summer.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The outing was first reported this week by the Associated Press, which obtained government emails <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fbi-kash-patel-snorkel-hawaii-pearl-harbor-192a81cde7a5879aab747bc0ba4b78b9\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">describing the <\/a>excursion as a \u201cVIP snorkel\u201d around the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nps.gov\/perl\/uss-arizona-memorial-programs.htm\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">USS Arizona <\/a>\u2013\u00a0the site that holds the remains of more than <a href=\"https:\/\/www.pearlharborhistoricsites.org\/plan\/uss-arizona-memorial\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">1,000 US navy sailors and marines<\/a> who died at Pearl Harbor in 1941.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">According to the AP, the outing was coordinated by the military, and took place in August during a two-day stop in Hawaii as Patel returned to the US from official visits to Australia and New Zealand. Patel had also <a href=\"https:\/\/www.fbi.gov\/contact-us\/field-offices\/honolulu\/news\/fbi-director-kash-patel-visits-honolulu-field-office\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">stopped<\/a> in Hawaii earlier in the trip, and visited the FBI\u2019s Honolulu field office.<\/p>\n<figure id=\"e11d993c-5fae-4907-b646-e588bf221ca4\" data-spacefinder-role=\"richLink\" data-spacefinder-type=\"model.dotcomrendering.pageElements.RichLinkBlockElement\" class=\"dcr-47fhrn\">\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" data-link-name=\"rich-link-3 | 3\" data-component=\"rich-link\" data-name=\"placeholder\" class=\"dcr-1kyw41h\">\n<div data-format-theme=\"5\" data-format-design=\"0\" data-format-display=\"0\" class=\"dcr-1bg5532\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/apr\/22\/kash-patel-alcohol-abuse-democrats-fbi\" class=\"dcr-1m887w9\"><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-ut4tvs\">\n<div class=\"dcr-1h5b6rb\">\n<div class=\"dcr-169d7yv\">Democrats demand FBI director Kash Patel take alcohol abuse test<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-eurq8n\">\n<div class=\"dcr-fkf7vq\">Read more<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/figure>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">On Friday, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/15\/us\/politics\/patel-fbi-travel-snorkeling-pearl-harbor.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">New York Times<\/a> also reported that nine other people joined Patel on the tour and the navy confirmed to the Times that the FBI director swam in vicinity of the tomb for 30 minutes.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">When asked for comment, the FBI referred the Guardian to a statement released earlier this week in response to the initial AP report, in which a spokesperson for the FBI <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/_WilliamsonBen\/status\/2055011980386435127\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">accused the outlet <\/a>of \u201cattempting to spin an invitation from the Commanding General of Indo Pacom to a military base as a party or vacation, which is so stupid\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The spokesperson added that the Department of Defense \u201croutinely does these engagements with interagency partners\u201d and said that when Patel was chief of staff at the Department of Defense in Trump\u2019s first administration, he \u201coffered the same event for many partners that came to visit\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cIt\u2019s a historical tour to honor heroes who died on the USS Arizona \u2013 not a party,\u201d the spokesperson added.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/fbi\" data-link-name=\"in body link\" data-component=\"auto-linked-tag\">FBI<\/a> also said in a statement to the AP that top regional commanders hosted Patel at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam \u201cas they commonly do with US government officials on official travel\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The bureau added that the Pearl Harbor visit \u201cwas part of the Director\u2019s public national security engagements last August with counterparts in New Zealand, Australia, our Honolulu Field Office, and the Department of War\u201d.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The FBI also said in a statement to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/15\/us\/politics\/patel-fbi-travel-snorkeling-pearl-harbor.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">Times<\/a> that Patel had been invited to Pearl Harbor by Adm Samuel J Paparo Jr, who is the head of the US Indo-Pacific Command.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Navy and defense department officials told the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/2026\/05\/15\/us\/politics\/patel-fbi-travel-snorkeling-pearl-harbor.html\" data-link-name=\"in body link\"> Times <\/a>that VIP \u201ctours\u201d near the USS Arizona were common, though they reportedly declined to say how often they take people snorkeling. The Navy spokesperson also reportedly declined to identify the nine people who joined Patel on the trip.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Neither the navy nor the National Park Service immediately responded to requests for comment from the Guardian about how often people are allowed to swim around the USS Arizona.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">According to the <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/fbi-kash-patel-snorkel-hawaii-pearl-harbor-192a81cde7a5879aab747bc0ba4b78b9\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">AP<\/a>, marine archaeologists and National Park Service crews occasionally dive at the memorial to monitor the wreck\u2019s condition, and other dives have been conducted to inter the remains of surviving USS Arizona crew members.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The outlet also reported that, since at least the Obama administration, a limited number of military and government officials connected to the memorial\u2019s management have been allowed to swim at the site. A former government diver told the outlet that past participants have included navy admirals, defense secretaries and interior secretaries, and that the tours were intended to provide them with insights regarding the memorial and its operations.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">Over the years, former FBI directors have visited Pearl Harbor on official business, but according to the AP, none dating back to at least 1993 are known to have snorkeled at the memorial.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">In an <a href=\"https:\/\/x.com\/Acyn\/status\/2055019840499524064?s=20\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">interview on CNN <\/a>this week, former FBI director James Comey was asked about the reports of Patel\u2019s snorkel trip.<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">\u201cYou said snorkeling?\u201d Comey asked. \u201cI visited the Pearl Harbor memorial with the admiral in charge of the pacific command on a navy boat, never got in the water, so I don\u2019t know, I think when you\u2019re FBI director you have a responsibility to represent not just yourself but 38,000 people and an idea, an American idea that\u2019s respected around the world and that\u2019s a burden, you\u2019re always on duty, you\u2019re always being watched, and I knew that the whole time.\u201d<\/p>\n<p class=\"dcr-130mj7b\">The reports about Patel\u2019s Hawaii trip comes as Patel has already faced scrutiny in recent months for mixing his leisure travel with <a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/olympics-hockey-fbi-director-kash-patel-8eb9ff9fcdf6ecd605643860fd1c18bf\" data-link-name=\"in body link\">official business<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div data-print-layout=\"hide\" class=\"dcr-qxqnsy\"><span class=\"dcr-1rq3vad\">Explore more on these topics<\/span><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-1dzx48f\">\n<ul class=\"dcr-1rrvs2w\">\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/hawaii\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Hawaii<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/fbi\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">FBI<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/trump-administration\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Trump administration<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/world\/secondworldwar\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">Second world war<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/us-news\/us-military\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">US military<\/a><\/li>\n<li class=\"dcr-hj8byr\"><a href=\"\/tone\/news\" class=\"dcr-1gwziyt\">news<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"dcr-nu129i\"><a href=\"mailto:?subject=Kash%20Patel%20faces%20scrutiny%20over%20snorkeling%20outing%20at%20USS%20Arizona%20memorial%20in%20Hawaii&amp;body=https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2026\/may\/16\/kash-patel-snorkeling-uss-arizona-memorial-hawaii?CMP=share_btn_url\" class=\"dcr-125qj9d\">Share<\/a><\/p>\n<div class=\"dcr-zhx6xs\"><a data-link-name=\"meta-syndication-article\" href=\"https:\/\/syndication.theguardian.com\/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.theguardian.com%2Fus-news%2F2026%2Fmay%2F16%2Fkash-patel-snorkeling-uss-arizona-memorial-hawaii&amp;type=article&amp;internalpagecode=us-news\/2026\/may\/16\/kash-patel-snorkeling-uss-arizona-memorial-hawaii\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer\" title=\"Reuse this content\" class=\"dcr-14rjinq\">Reuse this content<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div style=\"--grid-area:right-column\" data-gu-name=\"right-column\" class=\"dcr-1h2hraq\">\n<div class=\"dcr-tn16h9\">\n<section class=\"dcr-1hko8ef\"><\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Kash Patel testifies before a Senate committee on 12 May 2026. Photograph: Andrew Thomas\/CNP\/Andrew Thomas &#8211; CNP\/Shutterstock View<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":1187,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1186","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-world-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1186","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1186"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1186\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1188,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1186\/revisions\/1188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1186"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1186"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/usglobalnews.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1186"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}